On January 22, President Donald Trump pardoned a man who was sentenced to life in prison in 2015 for operating Silk Road, an online marketplace that allowed users to buy and sell illegal goods and services, including drugs. The pardon ignited debate across social media platforms about who is responsible for overdose deaths, with some posts garnering more than a million views. Some commenters suggested that those who sell and manufacture both legal and illegal drugs should be held accountable for overdose deaths. Others expressed stigmatizing attitudes toward people who have died from overdoses, arguing that they are solely to blame.
Recommendation
Persistent stigma toward people who use drugs shows a need for ongoing education. Messaging may explain that substance use disorder is a chronic health condition that can happen to anyone and that anyone can overdose on opioids. However, some populations face higher risk, such as people who have a history of substance use disorder or health conditions like sleep apnea, people who use other substances in addition to opioids, and older adults. Additional messaging may outline the signs of an opioid overdose and explain where people can access naloxone, which reverses an opioid overdose, and how to use it.
Fact-checking sources: National Harm Reduction Coalition
