There has been a steep rise last year in the number of opioid overdose deaths in Massachusetts among Black men, as the despair of the pandemic and poor health services took their toll. Latest data shows that while overall fatalities across the state increased by 5 percent in 2020, wiping out small gains over the previous years, the rate for Black men was 69 percent. Experts say that job losses, poverty, lack of housing and healthcare including for addiction were to blame for the staggering increase—part of a nationwide trend during COVID. Meanwhile, as opioid overdose deaths rise among prisoners in Los Angeles jails, the city has begun a program to distribute the overdose reversal drug naloxone to all facilities. This is a straightforward but unusual policy, as L.A. is one of the first counties in the country to ensure the drug is widely available. So far this year the drug has been used 85 times in county jails, compared to 54 incidents in all of 2020. And finally, although the White House has encouraged states to come up with creative ideas to promote COVID vaccinations, perhaps Washington State has gone a bit too far: it has started a “Joints for Jabs” initiative, rewarding participants who get vaccinated with a marijuana cigarette—not exactly in the interest of public health.