Why doesn’t the Gulf South have any drug checking services?

On this week’s episode, we take a look at how drug checking services save lives in the Netherlands — and why there aren’t any in the Gulf South.

The Dutch support these services with national and local funding. In the Gulf South, many of these programs aren’t legal, and federal funding cuts threaten the harm reduction services that do exist.

This episode is hosted by Elise Gregg. The podcast is produced by Drew Hawkins, Kat Stromquist, Stephan Bisaha, Orlando Flores Jr. and Ryan Vasquez. Nellie Beckett is our community engagement producer. Joseph King is our social producer. Our theme music is by DJ Supreme.

To get in touch with the team, email connect@gulfstatesnewsroom.org.

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Public Health

Drug checking services save lives in the Netherlands. The Gulf South doesn’t have any

Drew Hawkins

Both the U.S. and the Netherlands wrestle with the politics of drug use, but their approaches diverge in key ways that reflect deeper ideological divides.

Listen • 4:29