“In recent decades, countless new synthetic drugs have entered the underground drug supply, and overdose deaths and other drug-related harms have skyrocketed as a result. Media, policymakers, and the general public are concerned — but often misguided — in their attempts to address the issue because they lack accurate information about drugs and drug supply changes.

This four-part series will explore the most commonly used new and emerging synthetic drugs in the United States, the geographic trends in where and when these drugs have spread, and the demographic trends in who is impacted by these drugs. Panelists will examine the risks and harms faced by people who use drugs and discuss the role of harm reduction and medical providers in reducing overdose and health risks. We know that current drug policies fuel and will continue to incentivize new, and likely, more dangerous drugs. As drug policy reformers, people who use drugs, and people who care about people who use drugs, we will envision solutions that are just as innovative and nimble as these new markets.

Panel 2: Addressing Myths, Misinformation, and Real Harms

In this panel, experts will discuss how media, lawmakers, and advocates often, knowingly or unknowingly, affirm and promote fear and misinformation – often highly racialized – when new drugs emerge in the drug supply. Panelists will explain how sensationalized headlines about the latest drugs promote more stigma toward the people who use them. Panelists will address questions, such as: How do these headlines fuel public support for harsher penalties and more enforcement? What is the impact of media myths and misinformation on people who use drugs and harm reduction and healthcare providers in terms of staying safe and navigating drug-related risks? How can members of the media and advocates use their positions to raise awareness about shifting drug trends and balance the need for accurate information with our culture’s propensity to engage in highly stigmatized and unproductive fearmongering?”