The War on Drugs or the War on Drug Users? Supervised Consumption Site in the United States as a Harm Reduction Strategy to Fight the Opioid Epidemic

Exploring the U.S. response to the opioid crisis, this study critically examines supervised consumption sites (SCSs) as a pragmatic approach. The historical framework of the war on drugs is scrutinized, highlighting its limitations and the necessity to shift from punitive measures towards more effective harm reduction strategies. Due to escalating opioid-related fatalities and inadequate harm reduction methods, the potential of SCSs is evaluated for short-term intervention. The Department of Justice\u27s (DOJ) role in facilitating temporary measures to enable SCS operations is assessed, underscoring the urgency for a stable legislative framework to comprehensively address the crisis. This research advocates for embracing supervised consumption sites within a legal structure as a transformative response to the opioid crisis. By offering an alternative paradigm to the current drug policy, SCSs hold promise in reducing opioid-related deaths and reshaping the trajectory of substance abuse interventions

High-frequency carbonate cycles and stacking patterns: Interplay of orbital forcing and subsidence on Lower Jurassic rift platforms, High Atlas, Morocco

The stratigraphy of carbonate cycles and cycle-stacking patterns in Lower Jurassic shallow-water platforms from the High Atlas rift are related to base-level changes driven by orbital forcing and subsidence. Multifold platform stratigraphic hierarchy, originally recognized from field observations, yields cycle ratios approximating 20:5:1 with time-thickness (Fischer plots) and time-series analyses. The cycle ratios are similar to orbital cycles of long and short eccentricity and precession. A depositional sequence model for cycle-stacking patterns, which is governed by a threefold superimposed sea-level curve that yields a 20:5:1 cycle ratio, is compared with the stratigraphic field data. Divergence of Jurassic cycle distribution and stacking patterns from the ideal model suggest that subsidence and variation in long-term eccentricity controlled the development of progradational, aggradational, or retrogradational stacking patterns and thus dictated the resulting distribution of systems tracts within depositional sequences. The lithofacies character and cycle symmetry of individual carbonate cycles are controlled by local environmental conditions in addition to eustasy and subsidence. Cycles are considered the fundamental stratigraphic element constructing the platforms. However, the contribution of complete cycles to the overall stratigraphic record of the platform is varied. Outer-platform cyclic strata make up nearly 75% of the stratigraphic interval. In contrast, platform-margin or inner-platform strata contain less than 50% complete cycles. The balance at the outer platform between subsidence and the interplay of high-frequency and low-amplitude sea-level fluctuations of 1-5 m (3-16 ft) accounts for the higher percentage of cycles in shallow-water settings. Inner-platform strata were limited by creation of accommodation space, and platform-margin strata were too deep on the distally steepened margin to be influenced by every base-level shift that affected shallow-water sedimentation. Only infrequently did high-amplitude sea-level falls, of the order of 30 m (100 ft), expose sediments at the platform margin

High-frequency carbonate cycles and stacking patterns: Interplay of orbital forcing and subsidence on Lower Jurassic rift platforms, High Atlas, Morocco

The stratigraphy of carbonate cycles and cycle-stacking patterns in Lower Jurassic shallow-water platforms from the High Atlas rift are related to base-level changes driven by orbital forcing and subsidence. Multifold platform stratigraphic hierarchy, originally recognized from field observations, yields cycle ratios approximating 20:5:1 with time-thickness (Fischer plots) and time-series analyses. The cycle ratios are similar to orbital cycles of long and short eccentricity and precession. A depositional sequence model for cycle-stacking patterns, which is governed by a threefold superimposed sea-level curve that yields a 20:5:1 cycle ratio, is compared with the stratigraphic field data. Divergence of Jurassic cycle distribution and stacking patterns from the ideal model suggest that subsidence and variation in long-term eccentricity controlled the development of progradational, aggradational, or retrogradational stacking patterns and thus dictated the resulting distribution of systems tracts within depositional sequences. The lithofacies character and cycle symmetry of individual carbonate cycles are controlled by local environmental conditions in addition to eustasy and subsidence. Cycles are considered the fundamental stratigraphic element constructing the platforms. However, the contribution of complete cycles to the overall stratigraphic record of the platform is varied. Outer-platform cyclic strata make up nearly 75% of the stratigraphic interval. In contrast, platform-margin or inner-platform strata contain less than 50% complete cycles. The balance at the outer platform between subsidence and the interplay of high-frequency and low-amplitude sea-level fluctuations of 1-5 m (3-16 ft) accounts for the higher percentage of cycles in shallow-water settings. Inner-platform strata were limited by creation of accommodation space, and platform-margin strata were too deep on the distally steepened margin to be influenced by every base-level shift that affected shallow-water sedimentation. Only infrequently did high-amplitude sea-level falls, of the order of 30 m (100 ft), expose sediments at the platform margin

Local land use on Borneo: applications of indigenous knowledge systems and natural resource utilization among the Benuaq Dayak of Kalimantan, Indonesia

Indonesia as a nation faces the formidable task of balancing sustainable economic activity, conservation goals, and continuation of traditional indigenous life ways. This research encompasses a broad but integrated system of human-land relationships among the Benuaq Dayak, an indigenous group who maintain their customary laws and land use systems. The study identifies and analyzes instances of community related land management and resource utilization in the interior of Borneo. As forest dwelling people, the environment has shaped the culture and life ways of the Dayak. They have developed a complex system of cultural aspects in relation to the forest that they depend on for survival. The Benuaq Dayak create a mosaic of land use systems practicing Swidden agriculture, managing mixed fruit orchards, rubber and rattan plots, and community forest reserves. Customary laws continue to shape the landscape and dictate extraction of forest resources in the community reserves. Because the Benuaq Dayak are subsistence farmers, small-varied land parcels are used to cultivate a high variety of resources. Village household surveys were conducted to identify the varying types of resources utilized and agricultural activities. Land surveys and biodiversity plots were used to analyze the land use patterns. This research through sample surveys, species diversity plots, and ethnographic research identifies differences in resource use, sustainability efforts, and economic utility of the various land use types of the Benuaq Dayak

Sedimentology, stratigraphic occurrence and origin of linked debrites in the West Crocker Formation (Oligo-Miocene), Sabah, NW Borneo

The West Crocker Formation (Oligocene-Early Miocene), NW Borneo, consists of a large (>20 000 km2) submarine fan deposited as part of an accretionary complex. A range of gravity-flow deposits are observed, the most significant of which are mud-poor, massive sandstones interpreted as turbidites and clast-rich, muddy sandstones and sandy mudstones interpreted as debrites. An upward transition from turbidite to debrite is commonly observed, with the contact being either gradational and planar, or sharp and highly erosive. Based on their repeated vertical relationship and the nature of the contact between them, these intervals are interpreted as being deposited from one flow event which consisted of two distinct flow phases: fully turbulent turbidity current and weakly turbulent to laminar debris flow. The associated bed is called a co-genetic turbidite-debrite, with the upper debrite interval termed a linked debrite. Linked debrites are best developed in the non-channellised parts of the fan system, and are absent to poorly-developed in the proximal channel-levee and distal basin floor environments. Due to outcrop limitations, the genesis of linked debrites within the West Crocker Formation is unclear. Based on clast size and type, it seems likely that a weakly turbulent to laminar debris-flow flow phase was present when the flow event entered the basin. A change in flow behaviour may have led to deposition of a sand-rich unit with 'turbidite' characteristics, which was subsequently overlain by a mud-rich unit with 'debrite' characteristics. Flow transformation may have been enhanced by the disintegration and incorporation into the flow of muddy clasts derived from the upstream channel floor, channel mouth or from channel-levee collapse. Lack of preservation of this debrite in proximal areas may indicate either bypass of this flow phase or that the available outcrops fail to capture the debris flow entry point. Establishing robust sedimentological criteria from a variety of datasets may lead to the increasing recognition of co-genetic turbidite-debrite beds, and an increased appreciation of the importance of bipartite flows in the transport and deposition of sediments in deepwater environments. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Facies and faunal assemblage changes in response to the Holocene transgression in the Lagoon of Mayotte (Comoro Archipelago, SW Indian Ocean)

This paper documents the facies change in response to the Holocene transgression within five sediment cores taken in the lagoon of Mayotte, which contain a Type-1 depositional sequence (lowstand, transgressive and highstand deposits underlain by an erosive sequence boundary). Quantitative compositional analysis and visual examination of the bioclasts were used to document the facies changes. The distribution of the skeletal and non-skeletal grains in the lagoon of Mayotte is clearly controlled by (1) the rate and amplitude of the Holocene sea-level rise, (2) the pre-Holocene basement topography and (3) the growth-potential of the barrier reef during sea-level rise, and the changes in bathymetry and continuity during this period. The sequence boundary consists of the glacial karst surface. The change-over from the glacial lowstand is marked by the occurrence of mangrove deposits. Terrigenous and/or mixed terrigenous-carbonate muds to sandy muds with a mollusc or mollusc-ostracod assemblage dominate the transgressive deposits. Mixed carbonate-siliciclastic or carbonate sand to gravel with a mollusc-foraminifer or mollusc-coral-foraminifer assemblage characterize the early highstand deposits on the inner lagoonal plains. The early highstand deposits in the outer lagoonal plains consist of carbonate muds with a mollusc-foraminifer assemblage. Late highstand deposits consist of terrigenous muds in the nearshore bays, mixed terrigenous-carbonate sandy muds to sands with a mollusc-foraminifer assemblage on the inner lagoonal plains and mixed muds with a mollusc-foraminifer assemblage on the outer deep lagoonal plains. The present development stage of the individual lagoons comprises semi-enclosed to open lagoons with fair or good water exchange with the open ocean

A database solution for the quantitative characterisation and comparison of deep-marine siliciclastic depositional systems

In sedimentological investigations, the ability to conduct comparative analyses between deep-marine depositional systems is hindered by the wide variety in methods of data collection, scales of observation, resolution, classification approaches and terminology. A relational database, the Deep-Marine Architecture Knowledge Store (DMAKS), has been developed to facilitate such analyses, through the integration of deep-marine sedimentological data collated to a common standard. DMAKS hosts data on siliciclastic deep-marine system boundary conditions, and on architectural and facies properties, including spatial, temporal and hierarchical relationships between units at multiple scales. DMAKS has been devised to include original and literature-derived data from studies of the modern sea-floor, and from ancient successions studied in the sub-surface and in outcrop. The database can be used as a research tool in both pure and applied science, allowing the quantitative characterisation of deep-marine systems. The ability to synthesise data from several case studies and to filter outputs on multiple parameters that describe the depositional systems and their controlling factors enables evaluation of the degree to which certain controls affect sedimentary architectures, thereby testing the validity of existing models. In applied contexts, DMAKS aids the selection and application of geological analogues to hydrocarbon reservoirs, and permits the development of predictive models of reservoir characteristics that account for geological uncertainty. To demonstrate the breadth of research applications, example outputs are presented on: (i) the characterisation of channel geometries, (ii) the hierarchical organisation of channelised and terminal deposits, (iii) temporal trends in the deposition of terminal lobes, (iv) scaling relationships between adjacent channel and levee architectural elements, (v) quantification of the likely occurrence of elements of different types as a function of the lateral distance away from an element of known type, (vi) proportions and transition statistics of facies in elements and beds, (vii) variability in net-to-gross ratios among element types

The War on Drugs or the War on Drug Users? Supervised Consumption Site in the United States as a Harm Reduction Strategy to Fight the Opioid Epidemic

Exploring the U.S. response to the opioid crisis, this study critically examines supervised consumption sites (SCSs) as a pragmatic approach. The historical framework of the war on drugs is scrutinized, highlighting its limitations and the necessity to shift from punitive measures towards more effective harm reduction strategies. Due to escalating opioid-related fatalities and inadequate harm reduction methods, the potential of SCSs is evaluated for short-term intervention. The Department of Justice\u27s (DOJ) role in facilitating temporary measures to enable SCS operations is assessed, underscoring the urgency for a stable legislative framework to comprehensively address the crisis. This research advocates for embracing supervised consumption sites within a legal structure as a transformative response to the opioid crisis. By offering an alternative paradigm to the current drug policy, SCSs hold promise in reducing opioid-related deaths and reshaping the trajectory of substance abuse interventions

A novel approach to in-depth façade assessments: Improved corrosion test methods for embedded steel framing in historic masonry clad buildings

Corrosion of structural steel frames and associated steel assemblies within ‘vintage’ buildings circa 1880s to 1930s pose a health and safety risk to the public in major urban centers. The projecting masonry elements pose a particular concern when the underlying steel assemblies and anchorage begin to corrode. Failed masonry has fallen from buildings, leading to death in worst case scenarios. While some signs of masonry cracking or displacement are usually visible prior to failure, the level of degradation of the embedded steel is not. With the equipment available to test these unforeseen conditions, methodologies need to be shifted to understand unobservable conditions to assist in condition state ratings of embedded steel. In many cities, building owners are being faced with large expenditures to strip and replace terra cotta or stone elements where the underlying steel is in fair condition. This paper will discuss the field-testing programs where a building elevations' masonry clad, steel assemblies (outriggers, anchorage and cross bracing) were evaluated for corrosion. The testing program assessed various steel components which either projected from the structure or were embedded at great depth with a bespoke, in-depth advanced testing program geared towards the development of condition state ratings for the façade elements

ASR: Practical investigative techniques and field monitoring systems used to assess ASR for service life modeling.

Alkali Silica Reaction (ASR) is a common deterioration mechanism affecting many concrete structures of any type and age. Initially identified more than 60 years ago (Stanton, 1930), this mechanism is based on the chemical reactions between certain siliceous minerals present in the aggregate and the alkalinity of the concrete in the presence of moisture (internal RH). While certain deterioration patterns are clearly associated with ASR, such as gel exudation, aggregate expansion, and characteristic cracking, the material degradation can often be misdiagnosed to the untrained eye. In addition, certain elements of a structure can be severely affected while neighboring elements of the same batch/ mix design do not bear signs of deterioration or impact. Thus far, in situ field monitoring of ASR affected structures is related to moisture measurements, electrical resistivity, expansion, service life models are based on fracture mechanics of the aggregate. The impact to the concrete is loss of integrity, decreased compressive strength, shear and tensile strength. Some observed structures have split, with such force, that the concrete structure had cracks greater than 25mm where steel retention bands have split. The authors of this paper were engaged in two instances to provide service life assessments for ‘corrosion related degradation’ on ASR affected structures. In all instances the elements which were assessed were structural, load bearing elements, which if failed could pose a significant risk to owner, user, or end recipient. The need to develop an assessment technique for monitoring and service life assessments which are practical and efficient is being developed. The paper will discuss the development of the approach, from visual indicators identifying condition hierarchies, to long term condition monitoring for various concrete parameters combined with laboratory testing (expansion and residual alkalis) and mathematical modeling. Three case studies will be presented to illustrate conditions and process