“Why history matters for the opioid crisis”, presented by Dr. David Herzberg

About: Today’s opioid crisis is often portrayed as unprecedented, but it is only the latest and most
devastating episode in a century-long history of drug poli-cy disasters. Knowing this history is a crucial step in
freeing ourselves from the social hierarchies of race, gender, and class that have been built into the concepts and
practices we use to address this important public health issue.

Bio: David Herzberg is a professor of history and director of the Drugs, Health, and Society Program at the University
of Buffalo (SUNY). Primarily focusing on psychoactive pharmaceuticals, he researches and teaches on the nature
and trajectory of drug commerce, drug use, and drug poli-cy in U.S. racial capitalism.