Sheila Vakharia PhD MSW

FYI - I am on the other blue app at the same handle and will try and post more. But I will not be leaving Twitter. For over 14 years, I shared thoughts, musings, and extensive threads that I've been told have impacted many. I don't want to lose them. They'll be here.

SAVE THE DATE: August 27th at 7pm Baltimore I'll be doing an in-person book talk and signing at Red Emma's. Register and bring a friend! I would love to see you there. redemmas.org/events/sheila-…

ICYMI: LAC created a new guide for providers, harm reductionists, attys & others on combatting local opposition to substance use programs! Includes overview of anti-discrimination protections, case examples & strategies for overcoming NIMBYism: bit.ly/OvercomingNIMB…

This administration has prioritized punishment, penalties, tariffs, and border enforcement in the name of our loved ones who died of overdose. All while gutting the very programs & strategies that are saving lives, and cutting the research for solutions. npr.org/2025/07/16/nx-…

Appreciate this NYT coverage about Contingency Management, one of the most studied approaches to treating addiction- and one of our strongest tools to help people with stimulant use disorders. Rewards, not punishment! 💪🏽nytimes.com/2025/07/16/hea… via @NYTimes

People always ask me, "Sheila, but what about the kids?" Now I can refer them to this great textbook. Preorder your copy today! It's by Amanda Reiman and Barry Lessin - "Harm Reduction Approaches with Adolescents who use Substances." amazon.com/Harm-Reduction…

A lot of people are about to wake up uninsured and won’t even realize it, because in their state, Medicaid is disguised with feel-good names like “PeachCare,” “Healthy Indiana,” or “Medi-Cal.” They think the cuts won’t touch them.

The average medical school debt is $234,597, and this bill would cap federal loan borrowing at $200,000, meaning the remainder would have to be borrowed from high-interest private lenders, at a time when the country faces a shortage of 125,000 doctors. This is fine.

New Dig: @nycDSA co-chairs @unionGustavo and Grace Mausser on how DSA and @ZohranKMamdani campaign orchestrated historic victory. A behind scenes look at how DSA built most powerful socialist org in the country—and how we replicate their victory everywhere thedigradio.com/podcast/how-zo…

🥹🥹🥹

And we love this for him.

Yes to @ZohranKMamdani, @JumaaneWilliams, and Bay Ridge's own @JustinBrannan !!!! LFG!!!

This week, millions across the US are under a sweltering heat dome. Heat waves are especially deadly for incarcerated people, as prisons are not equipped to handle these environmental emergencies – which will only get worse because of climate change.

Many of the world's most famous economists say that Zohran Mamdani's economic policies are cost responsible and form a coherent agenda that rejects austerity and embraces the city’s power to make life more affordable for New Yorkers. thenation.com/article/econom…

Hey #CPDD2025 #CPDD25- swing by our panel in 2 hours at Grand Ballroom B on the 5th floor!

Our harm reduction family continues to experience tremendous loss. I am deeply saddened by the loss of Naomi Burke-Shyne and Peter Krykant. Both made a tremendous impact in the short time they were with us. I wish we had more time with both. May we be their continuation.

📣REGISTER NOW📣 ❤️‍🔥Support. Don’t Punish – Care Not Criminalization 🗓June 26, 2025 ⏰1pm PT · 2pm MT · 3pm CT · 4pm ET · 5pm AT · 5:30pm NT 🎟Register for a special virtual event marking @SDPcampaign 2025, co-hosted by @HRACollective + @HIVlegal. 🔗 supportdontpunish2025.eventbrite.ca

I was excited to do a deep dive on Copaganda for NPR's Code Switch. The episode is now out, and more relevant than ever. npr.org/2025/06/11/125…

If you know (or are) an Early Career Researcher heading to #CPDD2025 on Saturday, be sure to swing by our panel to learn about different career paths! I'll talk about my journey to policy advocacy. Swing by Bayside Ballroom A at 2:45pm!

The tent is always big enough for fascists, but too small for socialists. This has been true of liberal parties for 100 years.

“Heroin injection to fentanyl smoking: Examining temporal trends in substance type and route of administration among people who inject drugs in Los Angeles, CA and Denver, CO, USA between 2021–2022” by Jesse Goldshear and all (2025) via @ijdrugpolicy. sciencedirect.com/science/articl…