There's a Surprisingly Easy Way to Remove Microplastics in Your Drinking Water
In 2024, scientists in China found a simple and effective means of removing them from water. The team ran tests on both soft water and hard tap water (which is richer in minerals).
They added in nanoplastics and microplastics before boiling the liquid and then filtering out any precipitates.
Related:
"Tap water nano/microplastics (NMPs) escaping from centralized water treatment systems are of increasing global concern, because they pose potential health risks to humans via water consumption," the researchers from Guangzhou Medical University and Jinan University write in their published paper.
In some cases, up to 90 percent of the NMPs were removed by the boiling and filtering process, though the effectiveness varied based on the type of water.
Of course the big benefit is that most people can do it with what they already have in their kitchen.
"This simple boiling water strategy can 'decontaminate' NMPs from household tap water and has the potential for harmlessly alleviating human intake of NMPs through water consumption," write biomedical engineer Zimin Yu from Guangzhou Medical University and colleagues.
A greater concentration of NMPs was removed from samples of hard tap water, which naturally forms a buildup of limescale (or calcium carbonate) as it is heated.
Commonly seen inside kitchen kettles, the chalky substance forms on the plastic's surface as changes in temperature force the calcium carbonate out of solution, effectively trapping the plastic fragments in a crust.
"Our results showed that nanoplastic precipitation efficiency increased with increasing water hardness upon boiling," the team writes.
"For example, from 34 percent at 80 mg L−1 to 84 percent and 90 percent at 180 and 300 mg L−1 of calcium carbonate, respectively."
Even in soft water, where less calcium carbonate is dissolved, roughly a quarter of the NMPs were snagged from the water.
Any bits of lime-encrusted plastic could then be removed through a simple filter like the stainless steel mesh used to strain tea, the researchers say.
Past studies have measured fragments of polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate in potable tap water, which we're consuming daily in varying quantities.
To put the strategy to the ultimate test, the researchers added even more nanoplastic particles, which were effectively reduced in number.
"Drinking boiled water apparently is a viable long-term strategy for reducing global exposure to NMPs," write the researchers.
"Drinking boiled water, however, is often regarded as a local tradition and prevails only in a few regions."
The research team hopes that drinking boiled water might become a more widespread practice as plastics continue to take over the world.
While it's still not certain exactly how damaging this plastic is to our bodies, it's clearly not the healthiest of snacks.
Plastics have already been linked to changes in the gut microbiome and the body's antibiotic resistance.
The team behind this latest study wants to see more research into how boiled water could keep artificial materials out of our bodies – and perhaps counter some of the alarming effects of microplastics that are emerging.
"Our results have ratified a highly feasible strategy to reduce human NMP exposure and established the foundation for further investigations with a much larger number of samples," write the authors.
The research has been published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters.
An earlier version of this article was published in March 2024.
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Associated Press
2 hours ago
- Associated Press
The 35th Food Expo and Concurrent Fairs Attract Over 500,000 Visits
Multiple offers and theme days boost consumption and traffic - The Food Expo, Food Expo PRO, Hong Kong International Tea Fair, Beauty & Wellness Expo, and Home Delights Expo successfully concluded today, bringing together approximately 1,890 exhibitors and welcoming over 500,000 visits. - The per capital spending across the five fairs reached HK$1,630. - 48% of respondents believe that health, green and organic food trends are worth paying attention to. Halal food and beverage label at the expo helps promote the development of halal foods. - The five theme days, along with a series of exciting activities effectively boosted local consumption and created a bustling atmosphere. - The International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine and Health Products (ICMCM) featured 21 prominent speakers who shared innovative achievements and development trends in the globalisation of Chinese medicine. HONG KONG - August 18, 2025 ( NEWMEDIAWIRE ) - Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the Food Expo, Beauty & Wellness Expo, and Home Delights Expo successfully concluded today. Food Expo PRO and the Hong Kong International Tea Fair, which opened to both industry professionals and the public for the first time, wrapped up successfully on 16 August. The five exhibitions featured some 1,890 exhibitors and attracted over 500,000 visits. The bustling atmosphere resulted in a per capita spending of HK$1,630, once again demonstrating the appeal of this annual event and the public's purchasing power. Over at Food Expo PRO and the Hong Kong International Tea Fair, there were some 18,500 buyers from 64 countries and regions. Apart from Hong Kong, buyers came from Mainland China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, as well as ASEAN countries, including Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, among others, highlighting Hong Kong's significant role as a key food trade hub globally. Additionally, the International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine and Health Products, organised by the Modernized Chinese Medicine International Association (MCMIA) together with the HKTDC and ten scientific research institutions, also concluded successfully on 15 August. Sophia Chong, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director, stated: 'This year, the event featured five major themes across several exhibitions, complemented by a variety of exciting activities that encouraged people to spend locally. The atmosphere was vibrant, fully reflecting the public's enthusiasm for gourmet food and trendy products. Due to weather conditions on the first day, the opening hours of the public fairs from Friday to Sunday were extended to provide exhibitors with greater opportunities to maximise sales and enhance visitor experiences. The Hong Kong International Tea Fair, which opened to the public over all three days for the first time, attracted significant attention and praise.' Despite challenges from sluggish trade in traditional markets and geopolitical challenges, the HKTDC has consistently focused on driving innovation, helping small and medium-sized enterprises seize global development trends, and creating opportunities through innovative and flexible thinking. Ms Chong added: 'At this year's Food Expo and Food Expo PRO, we specifically curated products and services related to halal food, the silver economy, and food technology to meet emerging market demands and capture more business opportunities for exhibitors. We are pleased to see that the five exhibitions successfully generated more business for exhibitors, and the public enjoyed the culinary and shopping experience fully.' Per capita spending reached HK$1,630; increased interest in halal foods During the exhibition, the organisers conducted a random sampling survey, interviewing some 1,440 visitors. The per capita spending reached HK$1,630. Over 58% of respondents reported spending HK$1,000 or more at the exhibition, and over 30% indicated that their actual spending exceeded their original budget, demonstrating a strong and thriving consumption atmosphere during the event. The survey results also showed respondents believe that health, green and organic food (48%), and nutritional supplements (36%) trends are worth paying attention to. Among the respondents who are aware that the exhibition has a halal food and beverage label, more than half of the respondents (52%) believe it helps promote the development of halal foods. Vibrant consumption at the exhibition: encouraging sales performance As a highly anticipated annual event in the city, the Food Expo is dedicated to highlighting exquisite delicacies and fine wines from around the world. Director of exhibitor Yick Cheong Ho (HK) Limited, Joan Chui, stated that the Flavours of Intangible Cultural Heritage theme day has drawn extra interest and expected revenue of approximately HK$900,000. Some exhibitors are further expanding their business through the Food Expo. Huaying Lei, the chairman of Mayang Blue Phoenix Agricultural Development Co., Ltd from Mainland China stated that the company had signed a RMB60 million contract with a Hong Kong client for agri-products including high-quality edible eggs. Lei believed the Food Expo offers a perfect platform to showcase their wide-ranging products from Hunan Province. The concurrently held Beauty & Wellness Expo offered visitors a diverse range of premium products, with brand Mars, a Taiwan whey protein brand, the brand marketing manager Roy Wong said, 'This year, the visitor traffic exceeded our expectations and we expect our on-site sales will increase by 30% to HK$200,000.' The Home Delights Expo showcased a variety of trendy household items and furniture. Andy Tsang, the design director of Renovation Guide Consultant Limited - specialising in interior design and decoration and participating in the expo for the first time - said, 'Such a large number of new customers visiting our booth went above and beyond our expectations. We provided quotations to over 20 new clients, and we estimate that sales turnover will be around HK$2-3 million.' Trade exhibitions expand business networks; thriving opportunities in halal food The 3rd Food Expo PRO and the 35th Food Expo introduced halal food and beverage label last year to help exhibitors expand their market for halal products. This year, more than 120 food suppliers showcased halal products from around the world, a 20% increase compared to last year. Daniel Chan, Director of Hong Kong exhibitor, Koon Chun Hing Kee Soy & Sauce Factory Ltd., said the company had seen many buyers from different countries and regions and discussed cooperations with five Mainland China and local distributors and restaurants and also met a buyer from Indonesia through the Click2Match platform. The new 'Coffee' zone also debuted this year, showcasing coffee products, accessories, and machines from various origins. Jin Lu, Operations Director of CSFA Holdings Shanghai Co. Ltd., stated that the company has engaged with nine exhibitors from Mainland China, the U.S., South Korea, and other regions. The company is interested in placing a coffee beans order of approximately 50 metric tons (worth around RMB3 million) from a Yunnan-based supplier, as well as a RMB700,000 order for premium hairtail fish from a Korea exhibitor. The highlight zone, 'Food Science and Technology,' brought alternative and future food to the attention of professional buyers. My Care Healthcare Limited, a manufacturer of modified soft diet products for the elderly. Founder Francis Ho said they had discussions with nearly 120 buyers on the first day. On the last day of the fair, HKTDC arranged specialised medical industry buyer tours of which there were two potential buyers and the company is in talks with two hospitals to discuss the potential of supplying soft meals to them. The Okinawa Prefectural Government Hong Kong Representative Office organised four Okinawan companies to participate in the Food Expo PRO and successfully connected with buyers from Hong Kong, Mainland China, and international markets. Director Yasutoshi Nohara stated the fair helps them generate around HK$4 million in orders every year. Mr Nohara said the expo has been instrumental in providing them with a great opportunity, particularly to introduce Okinawan products in the Greater Bay Area and expand beyond Hong Kong with items that have not been shown in other markets before, such as soft shell turtle and Motobu beef. Sichuan Sentaiyuan Biotechnology Co., Ltd. has participated in the Food Expo PRO for four consecutive years, promoting healthy products. The company's CEO, Liu Lei shared, 'On the first day of the Expo, we met a long-time Hong Kong client in person for the first time, leading to a successful deal worth over US$5 million. The HKTDC also introduced several potential buyers from Japan, Singapore, and other regions and we expect deals to be finalised soon.' Mr Lei also mentioned that through the Sourcing platform, the company received around 30 inquiries before the expo and arranged on-site meetings with several clients. The 'EXHIBITION+' hybrid model has significantly boosted the company's visibility and secure more business opportunities. The Hong Kong International Tea Fair opened to trade and public visitors on all three days for the first time. Yip Wing-chi, Founder of exhibitor, Lock Cha Tea House, welcomed this arrangement and noted that there was a significant increase in traffic, creating a lively atmosphere. The public participation has effectively boosted business. Mr Yip said this year's sales were three times higher than last year. Hybrid model connecting local and overseas opportunities This year, both Food Expo PRO and the Hong Kong International Tea Fair continued to adopt the EXHIBITION+ hybrid model, enabling global food and tea buyers to engage in business discussions through both physical exhibitions and online platforms. Until 23 August, exhibitors and buyers can still utilise the 'Click2Match' smart matching platform for online discussion and to explore business opportunities. Chinese Medicine Conference Gathers Experts and Scholars to Promote Industry Exchange The International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine and Health Products, organised by the Modernized Chinese Medicine International Association in partnership with the HKTDC and ten scientific research institutions, has successfully concluded. The conference unveiled the latest professional information on traditional Chinese medicine and shared innovative achievements and development trends in the globalisation of Chinese medicine. Held concurrently with the Food Expo, Beauty & Wellness Expo, Home Delights Expo, Food Expo PRO, and the Hong Kong International Tea Fair, the event covered diverse fields such as food, beauty, health, home products, and Chinese medicine, successfully creating a synergistic effect, providing a broad platform for industry exchange. Photo download: To learn more about the opinions of exhibitors and buyers, please visit: Media Enquiries Ogilvy Public Relations: HKTDC's Communications and Public Affairs Department: Media Room: About HKTDC The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Could this be the alternative to LASIK surgery?
LASIK eye surgery has been performed successfully in the U.S. since the late 90s, helping nearly 40 million patients to improve their vision through a procedure that cuts into the eye using lasers. Some 600,000 of the Food and Drug Administration-approved surgeries are carried out on American adults each year. Now, researchers say they have come up with an alternative method that wouldn't need invasive incisions and could be cheaper. It uses a process called electromechanical reshaping, which helps to reshape the cornea using electrical current. The cornea is a dome-shaped, clear structure at the front of the eye that helps us to process images. Irregularly shaped corneas are the cause of nearsighted and farsighted vision and astigmatism, and LASIK fixes that by burning away tissue to reshape it. 'The whole effect was discovered by accident,' Brian Wong, a professor and surgeon at the University of California, Irvine, explained in a statement. 'I was looking at living tissues as moldable materials and discovered this whole process of chemical modification.' While the work is in its early stages, it could offer an alternative to LASIK. Although the surgery has been safely performed for nearly 30 years with rare complications, it has some limitations and risks. The surgeons say that cutting the cornea compromises the structural integrity of the eye. This procedure has yet to be performed in humans, but researchers previously used electromechanical reshaping to alter scars and skin in pigs and reshape cartilage-rich rabbit ears. Working with rabbit eyeballs, they constructed platinum 'contact lenses' that served as a template for the corrected shape of the cornea, placing them over a rabbit eyeball in a saline solution meant to mimic natural tears. After about a minute following a small electric charge to the lens, the cornea's curvature conformed to the shape of the lens. That happened in the same amount of time as LASIK, with fewer steps, no incisions, and less expensive equipment. Then, they repeated the step on 12 other rabbit eyeballs. Of those dozen, 10 were treated as if they had nearsighted vision, and the researchers found success. In others, they saw that their technique might be able to reverse some chemical-caused cloudiness to the cornea, which is currently only treatable through a complete transplant of the cornea. In the future, the researchers are planning tests on living rabbits, and looking at far-sightedness and astigmatism. Uncertainties in the team's scientific funding have put those plans on hold, but Michael Hill, a professor of chemistry at Occidental College, will present their findings this week at the fall meeting of the American Chemical Society. 'There's a long road between what we've done and the clinic. But, if we get there, this technique is widely applicable, vastly cheaper and potentially even reversible,' said Hill.
Forbes
3 hours ago
- Forbes
The Economics Of Pleasure: How A New Approach To Drug Use Could Save Millions
The conversation around drugs has long been framed by cost. Policymakers calculate the billions lost every year to productivity gaps, hospitalizations, law enforcement and incarceration. The U.S. alone spends an estimated $193 billion annually dealing with the fallout of illicit drug use, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Yet there is a blind spot. People do not only use drugs because of the usual suspects: trauma, poverty or pathology. They also use them because they feel good. Pleasure. Connection. Belonging. A stronger sense of self. There is an old joke that goes: 'Do you know what's the problem with drugs? That they feel too good.' And it is spot on. Ignoring this basic human driver has a cost of its own. Researchers and frontline harm-reduction workers are now introducing a radical, almost counterintuitive idea: what if drug policy and education started not from fear, but from pleasure? What if acknowledging the real reasons people use could reduce overdoses, improve mental health and save governments millions? As Valentine and Fraser noted in their 2008 study of methadone patients: 'Although pleasurable and problematic drug use are often thought to be mutually exclusive, pleasure is reported from both the effects of drugs such as heroin and methadone and from the social worlds of methadone maintenance treatment.' This is the frontier of 'pleasure management' or 'pleasure maximization,' a new way of thinking about consumption that blends economics, public health and lived experience. Daniel Bear and colleagues argue that harm reduction too often 'foregrounds risks at the expense of benefits.' Their framework of Mindful Consumption and Benefit Maximization (MCBM) begins by asking users why they consume, what benefits they seek and how to reduce risks while preserving those benefits. Zara Snapp, director of Instituto RIA in Mexico, reminds us that this is not a new invention. She points to ancestral traditions across Latin America where psychoactive plants were used to foster vision, knowledge and connection to the sacred. In this sense, today's debates about pleasure management are part of a much longer human story about using substances for meaning and wellbeing, not only risk. Silvia Inchaurraga, a psychoanalyst and president of ARDA (the Harm Reduction Association of Argentina), frames it in terms of rights: 'The concept of harm reduction cannot stand without legitimizing the right of people to consume drugs… interventions must always start from recognition of this right and the user as a citizen.' She argues that pleasure management challenges abstentionist logics that seek to eliminate risk altogether, instead of acknowledging that people use for multiple reasons, including wellbeing. Why People Really Use A 2017 systematic review by Guise and colleagues looked at 41 studies on why people initiate injection. They found that choices were rarely about desperation alone. People began injecting to seek pleasure, respond to rising tolerance, secure belonging and cope with trauma. Sexual pleasure is another driver. In a study of African American MDMA users, Khary Rigg found four main motives: altering the effects of marijuana and alcohol, enhancing sexual pleasure, prolonging performance and encouraging partners to experiment. As one participant put it, ecstasy was a tool for 'freaky' sexual experiences. These findings break with stereotypes. While White ravers often describe MDMA use in terms of empathy or connection with music, Rigg's participants focused on sex. The difference is more than cultural nuance. It is a reminder that pleasure is not monolithic. Harm-reduction messages need to be specific to the communities they aim to serve. Even in contexts we label 'problematic,' pleasure is part of the story. Valentine and Fraser's methadone patients said they enjoyed not only the effects of heroin or methadone but also the social life that treatment programs created. Methadone clinics were not just about survival. They were also spaces of joy and belonging. Harm Reduction From Below If pleasure motivates use, it also motivates care: people are not reckless, and often develop their own strategies to balance enjoyment with safety. In Brooklyn, queer nightlife workers told researcher Alex Mandler how they carefully balanced chemicals to sustain performance and avoid harm. Far from reckless, this was intentional 'curation' of highs and safety. Snapp sees the same thing across Latin America. 'Managing pleasure means understanding that people seek connection, empathy and a sense of being interconnected. Substances can help foster that, to generate greater awareness,' she told me. She also points to drug-checking services like Checa Tu Sustancia in Mexico and Échele Cabeza in Colombia, where users are asked why they consume, how often, and why they test their substances. 'The answers were simple: to enjoy it, to feel good. And the outcome is fewer ambulance calls, fewer overdoses, and less strain on public resources.' In Argentina, Inchaurraga and ARDA have carried this into public campaigns for decades, with slogans like 'Si te picas, léeme' [If you inject yourself, read me] (2000), 'Si consumís igual tenés derechos' [If you consume, you still have rights] (2005), and most recently, 'Chequeaste tus pastis?' [Did you check your pills?] (2024). These messages, shared in clubs, festivals and universities, normalize dialogue about both risks and pleasures, making harm reduction visible in everyday life. For Snapp, these services embody collective care. They are not only technical interventions but spaces where people can talk openly about their practices, share strategies and make better decisions together. She also contrasts this with how alcohol and tobacco are normalized despite the enormous harm they can cause, arguing that pleasure management offers 'another side of the coin,' a chance to build healthier cultures of enjoyment and self-regulation. Sheila Vakharia, managing director of research at the Drug Policy Alliance, reminds us that harm reduction itself was born as a peer-led practice: people who used drugs organized to keep each other safe, insisting that their motives, from coping to connection to joy, were valid. 'Harm reduction was started by people who use drugs to keep one another safe… many harm reductionists acknowledge that maximizing pleasure while reducing risk should be a key part of the work,' she says. Even formal services reflect this shift. In Frankfurt, Duncan and colleagues documented how supervised drug-consumption rooms created not only safer conditions but also new kinds of pleasure: safety, dignity and belonging (Duncan et al., 2017). Taken together, these stories show that pleasure management is not an abstract concept. It is visible in clubs, in clinics and in communities. What is missing is recognition and support from policymakers. The Real Costs And Potential Savings If people and communities are already managing their consumption, the question becomes: why is policy not keeping up, and what is that lag costing us? Most public spending on drugs is reactive and punitive. Police budgets, courtrooms, prison beds and emergency room visits absorb the majority. Very little goes to preventing those costs by addressing why people use in the first place. These are not inevitable costs. As a Drug Policy Alliance report shows, they are the direct result of the global war on drugs, a policy that not only maximizes harm but also disproportionately impacts low-income communities, women, Black people and Latinos. In other words, governments are not just overspending, they are overspending on policies that worsen the very problems they claim to solve. The research is clear. In a study of sexual minority adults using the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, Yockey and colleagues found that 21.9% reported tranquilizer use in the past year. Risk factors included being female, over 35, polydrug use and loss of pleasure in once pleasurable activities. In other words, depression and stress were fueling consumption. Addressing these realities before they spiral into crises is far less expensive than waiting for overdoses or hospitalizations. Inchaurraga emphasizes the economic dimension: 'Policies that criminalize end up multiplying costs. What we need are policies that reduce harm and recognize the motivations of use. That is where the savings are.' Her association's programs back this up with numbers. In one early study of injection-kit distribution in Rosario, 5 to 6 of every 10 people reached entered health services for HIV testing, counseling or treatment. More recently, ARDA deployed more than 100 harm-reduction devices at parties across five provinces, reached over 21,000 people with information, and tested 1,600 drug samples, finding that 18% contained something different than expected. These interventions reduce overdoses, cut hospitalizations and connect users to care, lowering long-term costs. Vakharia adds a policy perspective: 'The policies we have drafted and passed to allow for adult use of marijuana are probably the clearest illustration of our acknowledging pleasure as a motivator.' And Snapp connects the dots to human rights: 'According to the United Nations, more than 83% of people who use illegal drugs do so without developing problematic patterns. This framework responds to them and the need for information, services that don't demand abstinence and ultimately a safe supply through legal regulation.' She also notes that while resistance persists (critics often claim that talking about pleasure 'promotes use'), some governments are beginning to adopt the language. In Uruguay and even in Iztapalapa and Mexico City, local officials have started to frame public programs around the idea of managing pleasure, signaling that the concept is entering mainstream policy debates. Inchaurraga observes the same dynamic in Argentina: public health discourse often accepts harm reduction only as HIV prevention, but resists legitimizing pleasure as a health goal. This, she warns, leaves rights unaddressed and perpetuates stigma. Compare this with what governments currently spend on police, prisons and courts. These investments not only fail to reduce use but also compound costs through stigma and exclusion. International models back up the alternative. Studies of supervised consumption spaces in Europe and Canada show that these services prevent HIV infections, reduce emergency calls and lower overdose deaths. Each avoided overdose can save tens of thousands of dollars in hospital care. Every avoided arrest frees up courtrooms and prison cells. The real cost of drug use is not that people seek pleasure. It is that policy continues to ignore it. Toward Pleasure Management The evidence points in one direction. Harm reduction alone is not enough. To cut costs and improve lives, policy must embrace pleasure management. Pleasure management is not a break from harm reduction but an extension of it. For decades, grassroots harm-reduction programs have recognized the dimensions of pleasure and the right to sovereignty over one's body. What is new is the visibility and urgency of these approaches in a global landscape where criminalization has failed, and people are politicizing to demand pragmatic, rights-based responses. Bear and colleagues' Mindful Consumption and Benefit Maximization framework is one proposal. It critiques harm reduction for focusing on risks while sidelining benefits, and urges educators to help people reflect on motives, desired effects and strategies to maximize benefits while minimizing harms. Other researchers, like David Nutt in the UK, have reinforced this point with comparative harm rankings. His landmark Lancet study found that alcohol, a legal drug, causes more overall harm than heroin or crack cocaine—largely because of its massive impact on others through violence, accidents, and social costs. The implication is clear: prohibitionist classifications do not match real-world evidence of harm. Snapp and Instituto RIA stress the cultural and political importance: 'We see this as deeply linked to self-care and collective care… understanding that people who use substances, even controversial ones, do so, often, to feel good or to alleviate some pain, which also connects to wellbeing.' She frames it not just as a pragmatic tool but as part of a rights-based drug policy, arguing that recognizing pleasure is also about protecting dignity and ensuring that people who use drugs are treated as people with agency, not pathologized or excluded. These programs also serve as important spaces to politicize and organize the drug policy reform movement. Inchaurraga and her colleagues at ARDA take a governance view: interventions should begin from recognition of the right to consume as citizens, not criminalize it. Even in supervised consumption rooms, Duncan et al. found that pleasure and safety can coexist. People reported new forms of satisfaction in being treated with dignity and care. Mandler's work in Brooklyn nightlife shows the same: users already regulate dosage, timing and substance choice to balance fun with function. These grassroots strategies are proof that pleasure management is real and scalable. Three pillars stand out: As Vakharia concludes: 'Pleasure and recreation are among the biggest motivators for substance use of all kinds, so it needs to be incorporated into conversations about safety and policy.' From Fear To Pragmatism Drug policy has long been guided by fear. Billions are poured into punishment and cleanup while one of the biggest drivers of use, pleasure, is ignored. The result is a system that is both costly and ineffective. The evidence from researchers and practitioners points to a different path. Mindful consumption, community spaces and culturally tailored messaging all show that pleasure management is not only possible, it is already underway. People are planning, moderating, sharing and experimenting responsibly. Services that acknowledge this reality reduce emergencies, save lives and cut costs. These shifts are not only local. At the international level, the consensus that has long underpinned global drug control is starting to crack. In 2025, Colombia led a historic resolution at the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, securing the first-ever independent review of the drug control treaties. For the first time, prohibition itself will be under external scrutiny. Pleasure management and harm reduction are part of this broader paradigm shift away from punishment and toward evidence, rights, and pragmatism. For governments, the choice is stark. Keep spending on prison beds and ER visits, or redirect a fraction of that money toward interventions that reflect why people actually use drugs. The return on investment is obvious. Pleasure management is not a luxury. It is rights-based, pragmatic economics and smarter public health. And above all, more just and more humane. Disclaimer: This article discusses emerging research and policy debates around drug use and harm reduction. It is not intended to promote or encourage substance use. Readers should comply with applicable laws and consult health professionals for medical advice.
