Morning Roundup: July 24, 2019

John Cooper Clarke: 'I Didn't Want to Quit Heroin' [Guardian]
The 'punk poet' John Cooper Clarke on addiction and recovery. "I didn't want to quit... I thought I was doing everybody a favor. Everybody was worried about me, what can I say? No one wants to be a source of anxiety to everybody they know." 

Philippine President's War on Drugs Criticized as Crimes Against Humanity [NPR]
Human rights groups estimate there have been about 20,000 people killed in the name of President Rodrigo Duterte's violent drug war. Here is the story of one victim, 32-year-old Aldrin Castillo.

Tainted Alcohol Isn't Just a Costa Rica Problem—Here's What Tourists Need to Know [Fast Company]
A recent spate of deaths caused by methanol toxicity from drinking counterfeit alcohol has shed light on the risk of imbibing abroad. However, this problem is not exclusive to Costa Rica. Here's how to stay safe. 

Nadler, Harris to Introduce Bill Decriminalizing Pot, Expunge Marijuana Convictions [CNBC]
Senators Jerry Nadler and Kamala Harris plan to introduce legislation to decriminalize marijuana at the federal level and repair "the damage done by the war on drugs."  

Ex-Pharma Chief Charged with Flooding Appalachian Towns with Opioids [Guardian]
Anthony Rattini, the former head of major pharmaceutical distributor Miami-Luken, has been charged with flooding parts of Appalachia with opioid painkillers with little regard for the risk to public health.

Even in Las Vegas, The 'Sober Curious' Movement Grows [KNPR]
Sober communities, and the demand for non-alcoholic mocktails and fun activities are growing across the U.S. Sin City is no exception, despite having a reputation for its uninhibited and lavish nightlife. 

Vic Mensa Alt Act 93Punx Shares Travis Barker-Produced '3 Years Sober' [Alternative Press]
The song "3 Years Sober," released by Vic Mensa and produced by Blink-182's Travis Barker, is a rock anthem about overcoming addiction and living sober. "I used to eat pills, but now I just eat kale/I'm three years sober and I'm still hungover." 

Opinion: How New York Is Failing Those Left Behind at Rikers Island [City Limits]
The story of Shazaad Husein, "a man forced to make the heartbreaking choice between remaining detained on Rikers Island or stopping the lifesaving treatment he was receiving for addiction." Another story to highlight the "inhumane" New York jail.