As compassion in Baltimore wavers, support harm reduction journalism

For years, Baltimore's top media organizations have taken a cold, myopic approach to their coverage of drugs and substance use. The War on Drugs has raged on, yet the millionaire-backed outlets have almost exclusively covered the topics through the lens of crime, death and abstinence.

There's no doubt they adore a good drug bust, plastering photos of seized weapons and baggies on their homepages. On occasion, they may write about the overdose crisis, weaponizing thd unprecedented number of preventable deaths to spread fear-mongering narratives and stigma. If they want to platform the city's contingent of "NIMBYs" or force-feed people an abstinence-only ideology, they may write about treatment programs, whether that be inpatient facilities or methadone clinics.

These are all clear examples of how the news manufactures consent.

Local media outlets explicitly and implicitly convince their audiences that drug use and the people who use them are inherently bad. By doing so, they're complicit in the ongoing cruelty against drug users and the inevitable death that follows. The same is true for city officials who have claimed to support harm reduction initiatives while calling for even heavier-handed drug enforcement.

Compassionate care for drug users is seldom mentioned, and readers will rarely see the words "harm reduction" in a headline.

For more than two years, I've tried to change that. This newsletter has undergone some changes during that period, but my mission has remained steadfast.

With lived experience and a love for those who use drugs at the helm, I've attempted to combat the War on Drugs through independent advocacy journalism. That entails empowering the harm reduction movement, bringing more attention to policies that impact our most vulnerable neighbors and shedding light on the realities of drug use, addiction and social determinants of health.

That mission also includes holding both the media and local officials accountable for their reckless disregard of drug users' livelihoods.

Unfortunately, there isn't always an appetite for my brand of journalism, as evidenced by the dearth of meaningful coverage in Baltimore and elsewhere in the nation. And, thanks to the insatiable demands of America's capitalist gods, bills have become more difficult to pay.

The upshot: This has been a long-winded way of asking for your support.

In the current media climate, harm reduction journalism is scarce. That will likely continue, and I can only work to fill that gap with the support of readers.

Fundraising isn't my forte, but I've realized it will inevitably be part of my independent journalism career. I don't take much enjoyment in this, but I'd like to ask that you consider subscribing for just $5 or $10 per month. Donations are also welcome.

Every penny received through donations or subscriptions will cover my bills or fund my journalism, whether for Mobtown Redux or outlets such as the Baltimore Beat and Filter. Even if you don't have any change to spare, there are other ways to support me, too.

For one, Mobtown Redux will always remain free, without paywalls or ads. The vast majority of my subscribers are on the free plan, and I'd be thrilled to see more people sign up.

Also, word of mouth can be powerful. Share my work on social media, tell your friends and family about it or graffiti "Mobtown Redux" on your most hated building. It's all good in my book.

For those who have supported my work, I can't thank you enough. Perhaps more importantly, if my work has helped anyone who uses drugs, I'm glad you're here. You're the reason I do this.

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Don't know whether you think my work is worth paying for? Check out some of my recent articles below and see for yourself. You can also click here to read more about me.

Baltimore claims to embrace harm reduction. Its cops are targeting drug users for arrest

Baltimore is reckoning with an unprecedented overdose crisis, but its leaders have failed to embrace harm reduction instead of punitive drug policy. Its reliance on drug-war policing is a recipe for disaster.

Mobtown ReduxLogan Hullinger

In Baltimore’s drug war, ‘public safety’ comes before public health. Nearly all of those impacted are Black

City officials have found themselves unable — or unwilling — to let go of punitive drug enforcement and the millions of dollars it takes to bankroll the cops who carry it out.

Mobtown ReduxLogan Hullinger

Maryland is without any harm reduction training program after dropping Baltimore nonprofit

Since July 1, there has been no organization helming the Maryland Department of Health’s statewide harm reduction training program, and all harm reduction training modules have been scrubbed from the internet.

Mobtown ReduxLogan Hullinger

New data on Baltimore’s OD crisis underscores the absurdity of local response

New state data on Baltimore’s drug supply and fatal overdoses provides the latest insight into the city’s crisis. Deaths are on the decline, yet the cops have opted to crack down — and the drug supply continues to evolve.

Mobtown ReduxLogan Hullinger

Expansion of life-saving medications for opioid use disorder in prisons delayed as access remains a public health threat

There are already concerns that the program, which allows opioid-use disorder medications to be covered by Medicaid, won’t go far enough. The program only covers the medications, which include methadone and buprenorphine, 90 days prior to release.

Mobtown ReduxLogan Hullinger

As Trump targets Baltimore’s unsheltered population and harm reduction funding, Mayor Scott offers many words, few actions

Mayor Brandon Scott has appeared on national television five times this week to rebut Trump’s lies about violent crime, but he still hasn’t detailed a plan to protect Baltimoreans dealing with homelessness and substance use disorder.

Mobtown ReduxLogan Hullinger

Drug talk: A lesson in decency and semantics after this week’s chaos

Words matter. And in the epicenter of the nation’s overdose crisis, the least Baltimore officials and media outlets can do is minimize chaos and halt their use of harmful rhetoric that demonizes drug users.

Mobtown ReduxLogan Hullinger

‘It’s easier out here’: Despite extreme temperatures, unhoused Baltimoreans often seek comfort, familiarity in anything but a shelter

The story of being unsheltered in Baltimore is one largely rooted in trauma and the government’s failure to protect its most vulnerable.

Mobtown ReduxLogan Hullinger

Harm reduction is not just a means to a sober end

Baltimore officials appear to view harm reduction as a means to an end. In other words, it’s just a way to keep people alive until they can get sober. That may be the case for some, but it’s a dangerous conclusion to draw.

Mobtown ReduxLogan Hullinger

Baltimore’s landmark lawsuit is flawed — and so is the public’s view on opioids

Earlier this week, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge P. Lawrence Fletcher-Hill rejected the city’s $5.2 billion ask for abatement and reversed a $266 million jury verdict from last year. It shed light on the lawsuit’s flaws, but there’s more to the story.

Mobtown ReduxLogan Hullinger

Last week's newsletter: "Harm reduction or drug war? Baltimore wants to have it both ways"

As Baltimore officials try to convince the public they care about people who use drugs, Police Commissioner Richard Worley said the quiet part out loud this week: The department is targeting them for arrest, using them as pawns to get their hands on suppliers.

The admission by the city's top cop was a "mask off" moment that undermined what appeared to be a growing consensus among Mayor Brandon Scott, council members and Worley himself, all of whom have admitted that they cannot arrest their way out of an unprecedented overdose crisis. Officials have repeatedly emphasized the importance of harm reduction; in the same breath, they've continued to bankroll a notoriously corrupt police department without hesitation as its officers make a concerted effort to arrest some of the city's most vulnerable residents.

Read the full newsletter here.

Mobtown Redux's Overdose Data has been updated with the latest local, state and national data

Baltimore's overdose death toll in 2024 remained at 778 this month — this is preliminary data that's subject to change as causes of death are determined. That marks a 25.4% decrease from the year prior.

In the 12-month period ending in August, Baltimore saw 559 deaths, a death rate of 95.4 per 100,000 people. Statewide, there were 1,338 deaths, a death rate of 21.7 100,000 people.

The data indicates that fatal overdoses continue to trend downward after years of climbing, though poor Black neighborhoods in West Baltimore continue to suffer the most.

Check out Mobtown Redux's Overdose Data Dashboard here.

Click here to learn more about harm reduction resources in the Baltimore area.

Filter: "Remembering Louise Vincent, a Fighter for Drug-User Rights"

The dictionary definition of “force of nature” should consist of two words: Louise Vincent. With an extraordinary, almost uncontrollable energy, spirit and power, she fought for the rights and health of people who use drugs in profoundly impactful ways—often by defying societal norms, breaking laws, and achieving goals through sheer willpower and charisma.

That force of nature died on September 2. Louise was 49. It is a staggering loss for her family, friends and the harm reduction and drug-user communities.

Click here to read the full article.