Portland State University researchers have released the final findings in a three-year project examining the impacts of multiple drug policy shifts including Measure 110 which decriminalized drug possession in Oregon. 

The final report finds little evidence that Measure 110 was responsible for rising crime or overdose deaths. Instead, researchers found that trends in crime rates and overdose fatalities were primarily driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of fentanyl. The report also offers crucial insights for the implementation of the state’s new drug policy (HB 4002), emphasizing that policy change alone isn't enough — successful deflection to treatment depends on robust resources and coordination.

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are tiny fat bubbles that are used to deliver medicines, genes, and RNA into cells. However, in some cases LNPs can cause harmful inflammation as a result of the process of RNA delivery. Now, two new solutions can help alleviate inflammation while still getting RNA where it needs to be in the cell. One discovery found that inflammation could be reduced with the addition of a unique biodegradable lipid to the treatment; another solution identified a common drug, called thiodigalactoside (TG), which blocked inflammation when added to the LNP. Today’s Nature Nanotechnology features this research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Using dollar stores for food purchases may be a common practice for Americans looking to free up funds for the rest of their grocery list, researchers from Tufts University and the USDA-Economic Research Service report. Their multi-year analysis of where households buy their non-restaurant calories found that dollar store food purchases are rising, but families are balancing this with purchasing more nutritious items elsewhere.