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Ricky N. Bluthenthal

@rnbluthenthal.bsky.social
1.3K followers 1.3K following 33 posts

Husband, father, Chair, & Distinguished Professor, Department of Population and Public Health Sciences at Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California. Fan of UC Santa Cruz, harm reduction, & helping out. (he/him/his)

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Reposted by Ricky N. Bluthenthal
The New York Times @nytimes.com · 03/10/2026
Dignity Village in Portland, Oregon, is the longest running experiment in what happens when the structure of an encampment gives way to a more permanent community, with dozens of residents, all previously homeless, managing the space on their own. nyti.ms/3Vh08Rd
A chain-link fence with a no trespassing sign and small wooden structures among trees behind it. A headline reads: "The Homeless Community In Portland That Became A Self-Governed Village." Photo by Ricardo Nagaoka for The New York Times.
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The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
For decades Americans in Republican counties have died sooner than those living in Democratic ones Now they’re dying faster than they’re being born These are policy choices
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Clara Jeffery @clarajeffery.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Same arguments being used today, particularly by SCOTUS www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
motherjones.com
Jim Crow was on the ash heap of history. Then came the Roberts court.
The disaster the justices have unleashed has its roots in one of the darkest periods of our past.
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Michael Harriot @michaelharriot.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
I DESPERATELY need your help with something, even if it’s just sharing this skeet: I’m working on a piec about the evolution of video games and the KEY to my story is a guy named Oscar Munoz who worked for Sega in the early 1990s I’ve tried everything to find him and social media is my last resort
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Bolts @boltsmag.org · 06/09/2026
So much of Reconstruction was erased after the 1870s, as southern states rushed to design new suppression tools. The Readmission Acts were “intentionally forgotten to history,” says a legal scholar.
boltsmag.org
A Voting Rights Promise, Betrayed for 156 Years - Bolts
After the Civil War, Congress readmitted Southern states on the condition they not expand felony disenfranchisement—but they quickly ignored the restriction. It has finally caught up with one state, with a federal court ruling against Virginia and reviving the Reconstruction-era promise.
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Chad Loder @chadloder.dev · 06/09/2026
The reason we spend so much money being awful to unhoused people is the system needs a visible reminder of what landlords and bosses are threatening you with.
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Egberto Willies, Politics Done Right @egbertowillies.com · 04/09/2026
[[LIVE]] Harris County shows how prevention can reduce police and jail pressure as the Pentagon seeks NIH funds and 33 House Democrats join Republicans on a bill punishing Israel boycotts. #PDRK
youtube.com
Prevention Beats Jail: Rodney Ellis Backs HART/RISE, Pentagon Eyes NIH, Dems Target BDS
Harris County shows how prevention can reduce police and jail pressure as the Pentagon seeks NIH funds and 33 House Democrats join Republicans on a bill punishing Israel boycotts. #PDRK
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Katie Mack @astrokatie.com · 02/09/2026
There are endless studies showing this and also the financial and societal benefits of universal basic income and or housing-first policies but the U.S. never goes for any of it because it would require allowing the poor to receive benefits that the rich consider “undeserved”
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David Beard @dabeard.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
As our president tries to paint Canada as an enemy during the 25th anniversary of 9/11, it might be a good time to see "Come From Away," the story of a small Canadians town embrace of Americans stuck there after the terror attack. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af77...
youtube.com
Come From Away — Official Trailer | Apple TV
YouTube video by Apple TV
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Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
We are projected to spend $268 BILLION on deportations — costing the average American taxpayer about $2,358 (according to @epi.org). But somehow we “can’t afford” to make sure hungry children can eat or ensure everyone, no matter their income, can access healthcare. Priorities.
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Gregg Gonsalves @gregggonsalves.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Thank you to @saulausterlitz.bsky.social for this piece. Students, faculty and alumni at Yale are doing a teach-in on democratizing the university today. This piece is perfectly timed. @adamgurri.liberalcurrents.com www.liberalcurrents.com/bending-the-...
liberalcurrents.com
Bending the Knee at Yale
Why is it that Maurie McInnis and her fellow elites crumbled so instantaneously?
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Tracey Helton Mitchell MPA @traceyh.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
traceyh415.substack.com/p/overdose-a...
traceyh415.substack.com
Overdose Awareness Day
August 31 and every other one
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Angela Welz @heartforward.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Treatment and harm reduction aren’t interchangeable. Closing harm reduction services has consequences. If we take away something people depend on, we have a responsibility to ensure they aren’t left at greater risk. blog.catie.ca/2026/08/17/w...
blog.catie.ca
What do we owe people? Ethics and the rollback of harm reduction programs in Canada | CATIE Blog
Canada is facing a drug policy contradiction. Governments continue to describe toxic drug deaths as a “serious public health crisis”, yet some are dismantling parts of the public health response…
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alec karakatsanis @equalityalec.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
THREAD. Contrary to what you are being told, 40 years of polling have established that shifting money away from police/prisons toward social services is one of the most popular public policies among *all* political demographics. But it's not just that, it goes way deeper.
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Keck School of Medicine of USC @keck.usc.edu · 12/08/2026
Welcome to medical school, Class of 2030!🥼 The white coat ceremony marks a pivotal milestone for the Class of 2030. Students don their white coats for the first time, symbolizing their formal entry into the medical profession.
A large group of people in white coats stand in rows facing the stage within a grand, well-lit auditorium. The architecture is ornate with high ceilings. An emblem resembling Stanford University's logo is projected on the wall. The audience fills the upper balconies, and red screens display text related to the Stanford Medicine White Coat Ceremony.A group of three individuals, wearing lab coats and smiling, take a selfie together. They are standing in an indoor setting with brick walls and informational signs in the background.Two individuals in white coats are standing and smiling. One person is wearing a bright orange outfit. They are shaking hands on a stage with a podium and colorful flowers visible in the background. A partial view of a sign reads "Medical."A person in a black dress is being helped into a white coat by someone on a stage. Other individuals in white coats are present, and a sign in the background displays the letters "Ke M".
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Helen Redmond @helenredmond.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
filtermag.org/a-statement-...
filtermag.org
A Statement About Filter
Filter is shutting down this week. It's a big loss for those of us who have cared about the publication. But we have much to be grateful for.
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AMERSA @amersa.org · 07/08/2026
Three reasons to be in Washington this November. 🎉 AMERSA's 50th Anniversary Conference · November 12–14, 2026 · Register at conference.amersa.org #AMERSA2026 #StrongerTogether
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George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
My column on how capital becomes a death cult. Faced with a choice between profit and human life, the radical right chooses profit. Then it tries to persuade us that mass death is what we want. It's the new phase of climate denial: accept your fate, earthlings. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Murderous heat, an endangered food supply, decimated landscapes: embrace the Mediterranean life | George Monbiot
As climate disaster stares us in the face, the radical right says ‘Embrace the Mediterranean life’. Embrace death, more like it, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
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newandabitalarming.bsky.social @newandabitalarming.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Always uplifting to watch this master class in asskicking.
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Aaron Sojourner @aaronsojourner.org · 25/07/2026
Admirable clarity @science.org
The Trump administration hates academic science funding, full stop. They hate where that money goes, and they hate who it goes to. They want to keep all that money for themselves, to hand out to favored cronies who can help them get elected and to steer yet more money and more power back into their hands.

That’s it. That’s the story
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Anne Sosin @annesosin.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
We need to see MAHA as the product of a political economy designed to sow doubt and undermine public institutions, rather than a solution to the structural forces that have created a sense of abandonment and dislocation in too many communities and left them vulnerable to bad faith actors.
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Max Jordan Nguemeni @maxjordan.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
If there’s no society, there’s no obligation to regulate pollution, guarantee food security or access to healthcare. There are only individuals tasked w/ optimizing themselves. Read why I think #MAHA isn’t about health. It’s healthism. My latest in Adverse Reaction. open.substack.com/pub/adverser...
open.substack.com
MAHA Isn’t About Health. It’s Healthism.
RFK Jr. pushes diet and exercise while millions of Americans face hunger, poverty, and worse.
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The Center for Drug Use and HIV Research (CDUHR) @cduhr.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Heroin-assisted treatment improves patients' health along with their quality of life "This suggests that HAT both stabilizes patients and that it can act as a bridge to less intensive treatment," medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07...
medicalxpress.com
Heroin-assisted treatment improves patients' health along with their quality of life
At two clinics in Oslo and Bergen, a small group of patients have been given a new treatment option for opioid addiction. Twice daily, they receive pharmaceutical heroin as medication, administered un...
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Jason Scott @textfiles.com · 03/07/2026
I'll summarize this: Mamdani asked NYers to keep air conditioning at 78 degrees. A wave criticism hit online. A MSNBC broadcast pointed out the US Department of Energy recommends that 78 degree figure. Immediately after, the US Department of Energy deleted 6,000 web pages related to energy saving.
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The Addiction Psychologist @addpsychpodcast.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
@rnbluthenthal.bsky.social Thank you for an amazing episode!
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The Addiction Psychologist @addpsychpodcast.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
🚨 NEW EPISODE ALERT 🚨 In this week's episode we invited Dr. Ricky Bluthenthal to discuss harm reduction, systemic barriers impeding access to it, and just how much policy influences health outcomes. Don't miss out - listen here or anywhere you get your podcasts! open.spotify.com/episode/6Fmy...
open.spotify.com
Dr. Ricky Bluthenthal - Barriers in Access to Healthcare and Harm Reduction Services
The Addiction Psychologist · Episode
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Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Such good news. Human beings are capable of magical and wonderful things. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Cervical cancer deaths fall to zero in young women given HPV vaccine
A new study finds that hundreds of lives have been saved since school-age girls were offered the HPV jab in 2008.
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Colette Delawalla, PhD @cdelawalla.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
Hopping on a plane to DC tonight, because @standupforscience.net is fighting this new OMB rule proposal with everything we’ve got. My calendar is literally booked for 12 hours of meetings, on the Hill, in a row for three days. Wanna sponsor the trip? secure.qgiv.com/for/stop-vou...
secure.qgiv.com
Stop Vought from Privatizing and Politicizing Science
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The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 06/06/2026
Five diabetes researchers were removed from the field’s premier conference in New Orleans after handing out copies of an editorial criticizing the Trump administration’s “dismantling” of the biomedical research enterprise.
washingtonpost.com
Diabetes researchers ejected from conference after criticizing White House
The scientists, including the editor of a leading journal, were handing out copies of an editorial criticizing the Trump administration’s handling of biomedical research.
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Ricky N. Bluthenthal @rnbluthenthal.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Often times becoming homeless occurs after generations of challenges. This recollection from a Blue Hollywood Sanctuary participant is a moving example full of tragedy, recovery and comparison. www.bluehollywoodstreetsanctuary.com/blog/black-b...
bluehollywoodstreetsanctuary.com
Black Butterfly — Blue Hollywood Street Sanctuary
This project is supported by the Unshame CA campaign , funded by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) through a grant administered by Shatterproof.
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Marc Elias @marcelias.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
A reminder that DOJ has sued 30 states for access to their sensitive voter files. DOJ is currently 0-8 in decided cases. This is what I mean when I say the future of democracy is on the docket. www.democracydocket.com
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Scott Horton @robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
An effective push back against GOP culture war tactics? Seems to me it should be.
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Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.net · 30/05/2026
Vought is trying to destroy American science as we know it. Here's what you can do to stop him: 👉 Visit our action center: zurl.co/NXVak 👉 Donate to Fuel the Fight for Science: zurl.co/PHtGH
The graphic contains a photo of Russell Vought, the red Stand Up for Science logo, and a news clipping reading: "White House proposes new rules giving political appointees final approval on research grants, These proposed Office of Management and Budget regulations would render the federal research grant review process opaque." The graphic reads: "Stop vought. Save Science. Emergency Science Meeting, June 2nd 4pm et. LINK IN BIO (all in one place), Email & Call Your Members of Congress, Leave a public comment, Donate to Fuel the Fight for Science, Register for the meeting."
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Sanho Tree @sanho.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
If you’re interested in how scientific advances build on each other, watch one of my favorite series of all time. James Burke’s “Connections” had a huge influence on me when it originally aired.
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TK (Takashi DY) Kozai @bioniclab.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
GFP technology is used to screen the drugs you take, detect antibiotic residues in the milk you drink, and monitor pathogens in your water supply. If you've had a medication developed after 2000, fluorescent proteins likely helped screen it. You're already benefiting from the jellyfish. Every day.
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TK (Takashi DY) Kozai @bioniclab.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
🔗 This is part of the "Your Tax Dollars At Work" series on federally funded research that sounded ridiculous but generated enormous returns. Full series archive: bioniclab.substack.com/notes #YourTaxDollarsAtWork
bioniclab.substack.com
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Science Magazine @science.org · 22/05/2026
Jasmine Clark will become the first Black woman with a science Ph.D. to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. scim.ag/4dDZe6P
scim.ag
Microbiologist wins Georgia primary for U.S. House seat
Jasmine Clark is set to become the first Black congresswoman with a science Ph.D.
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Ida Bae Wells @nhannahjones.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
Because this country likes to forget what it’s capable of, I take it as a duty to remind us. We sit at the brink of the largest decimation of Black political power since the fall of Reconstruction — a Second Redemption. And the end of Black political power means the end of democracy itself.
nytimes.com
The Civil Rights Era Is Collapsing Before Our Eyes
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Ryan Marino, MD @ryanmarino.bsky.social · 23/05/2026
This incident has it all! But you still cannot overdose on fentanyl from just being near it, whether through air or skin. We shouldn’t obscure the tragedy of overdose - entirely preventable! - with bad response to overdoses youtu.be/215hLEVD9ww?...
youtu.be
The Myth(s) of Fentanyl Exposure
YouTube video by Ryan Marino, MD
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Marc Elias @marcelias.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
Many of you are asking how you can help me. My only ask is this: Spread the word about the threats to democracy and how we can fight back. Tell everyone to subscribe to Democracy Docket for free and share its content with everyone you know. Thanks. bit.ly/4a7l1TR
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Miaganga @miaganga.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
Hell Yeah Science☄️💥⚡️💯
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Jon Cooper @joncooper-us.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
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National Harm Reduction Coalition @harmreduction.org · 10/05/2026
Family comes in all shapes & sizes, & #HarmReduction mamas are the heartbeat of communities across the world. This #MothersDay, we're lifting up the time, energy, & care mamas pour into their life-saving work making this world a safer, healthier world for people who use drugs & all people.
Black and white lines pattern frames purple, pink, and green gradient background. Bold, all caps white font reads, "WE LOVE OUR HARM REDUCTION MAMAS." beside mint green heart shape. Smaller white font below reads, "We're grateful for you showing up for your loved ones and community."  NHRC 30th anniversary logo in purple at bottom right.
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Scott Santens @scottsantens.com · 28/04/2026
After 13 years working on UBI full-time, I've learned: in tech, talking about UBI is easy. Funding it is rare. So I've just launched the AI Pledge for Humanity to separate the talkers from the doers. And to share Elon's role in silencing one of his own engineers who pushed for UBI.
open.substack.com
I Just Launched the AI Pledge for Humanity. Here’s Why.
AI leaders keep saying UBI is necessary. This pledge asks them to prove it.
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Alt National Park Service @altnps.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
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Gregg Gonsalves @gregggonsalves.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
If you're in Chicago, come join me, Nabarun Dasgupta and Mary Pounder a week from Saturday. www.chicagohumanities.org/events/atten...
chicagohumanities.org
The Infrastructure of Compassion: Rethinking Public Health in the Fentanyl Era
MacArthur Fellows Nabarun Dasgupta and Gregg Gonsalves on their life-saving work
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Alex Taliadoros @alexctaliadoros.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
Just saw a kid run up to a MetroBus as it was pulling away. The bus driver kept driving, but a woman on the bus yelled “STOP, that’s my son!” The driver stopped and let the kid on. The kid was not the woman’s son. Not sure what’s more impressive: the rider solidarity or the quick-thinking lie!
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Ricky N. Bluthenthal @rnbluthenthal.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
www.linkedin.com/posts/ricky-... I presented along with Sid Ganesh PhD on structural violence, structural disempowerment and clinical care for people who use drugs. Enjoy.
linkedin.com
Video Conferencing, Web Conferencing, Webinars, Screen Sharing | Ricky Bluthenthal
I had the pleasure of presenting alongside Sid S. Ganesh, PhD for the USC Department of Population and Public Health Sciences on Structural violence, structural disempowerment, and clinic care for peo...
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Gregg Gonsalves @gregggonsalves.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
This is straight-up ratfucking of biomedical research by Russell Vought, Jay Bhattacharya, Matthew Memoli and Jon Lorsch. It's despicable dirty tricks.
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Gregg Gonsalves @gregggonsalves.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
My latest for @thenation.com. For those of us in healthcare, public health, science resisting is a duty born of our commitment to serve, make the world a better place. But our institutions don't make it easy. But we still have to do it in large and small ways. www.thenation.com/article/acti...
thenation.com
A Motto for All Health Workers: Resist, Resist, Resist
Doing our work and keeping our heads down isn’t a victory. We need to fight this regime every day, in every way.
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