Safer Solutions

Chelsea Boyd and Jessica Shortall are the lead authors of the Safer Solutions newsletter. Every two weeks, they explain a complex health policy topic in about 800 words using easy-to-understand language. Safer Solutions covers community health topics including behavioral health, substance use, and family well-being.

Please reach out with any comments or topic suggestions.

Sign up for this newsletter to stay up to date with our work.

Newsletters Behavioral Health, Federal Government Affairs, Harm Reduction, Healthier Communities, Safer Solutions, Substance Regulation, Tobacco Harm Reduction

Safer Solutions: What does the FDA approve?

Chelsea Boyd, Jessica Shortall June 10, 2026

Newsletters Behavioral Health, Harm Reduction, Healthier Communities, Mid-Atlantic, Opioid Harm Reduction, Safer Solutions, South, State Policy, Thriving Families

Safer Solutions: Increase Adherence to Prenatal Care with This One Weird Trick

Jessica Shortall, Chelsea Boyd May 27, 2026

Newsletters Healthier Communities, Safer Solutions, Substance Regulation, Tobacco Harm Reduction

Safer Solutions: The FDA authorized flavored vapes. Now what?

Chelsea Boyd, Jessica Shortall May 13, 2026

Analysis, Newsletters Behavioral Health, Harm Reduction, Healthier Communities, Safer Solutions, Substance Regulation, Tobacco Harm Reduction

Safer Solutions: Smoking Hits an All-Time Low—But Not for Everyone

Chelsea Boyd, Jessica Shortall April 29, 2026

Newsletters Behavioral Health, Federal Government Affairs, Harm Reduction, Healthier Communities, Opioid Harm Reduction, Safer Solutions, Substance Regulation, Tobacco Harm Reduction

Safer Solutions: The Challenges of Regulating Chemical Analogs

Chelsea Boyd, Jessica Shortall April 15, 2026

Newsletters Behavioral Health, Federal Government Affairs, Harm Reduction, Healthier Communities, Opioid Harm Reduction, Safer Solutions

Safer Solutions: Extreme Weather Events Highlight Market Failures in Methadone Access

Jessica Shortall, Chelsea Boyd April 1, 2026

Newsletters Cannabis, Federal Government Affairs, Healthier Communities, Safer Solutions, State Policy, Substance Regulation

Safer Solutions: The Perils of Regulatory Lag

Chelsea Boyd, Jessica Shortall March 18, 2026

Newsletters, Real Solutions Behavioral Health, Harm Reduction, Healthier Communities, Safer Solutions, Substance Regulation, Tobacco Harm Reduction

Safer Solutions: Goldilocks Regulation – Getting Substance Regulation ‘Just Right’

Jessica Shortall, Chelsea Boyd March 4, 2026

Newsletters Behavioral Health, Harm Reduction, Healthier Communities, Opioid Harm Reduction, Safer Solutions

Safer Solutions: What happens when a person misses a methadone dose?

Jessica Shortall, Chelsea Boyd Feb 18, 2026

Newsletters Behavioral Health, Cannabis, Harm Reduction, Healthier Communities, Opioid Harm Reduction, Psychedelics, Safer Solutions, Substance Regulation

Safer Solutions: How Designating Substances as Schedule I Harms Research

Chelsea Boyd, Jessica Shortall Feb 4, 2026