The opioid epidemic and accessibility to free Wi-Fi: internet access is a human rights issue

• Main Author: Ehsan Jozaghi (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: BMC, 2024-08-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.1186/s12954-024-01061-3; 1477-7517
• Keywords: Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270
• Source: Harm Reduction Journal, Vol 21, Iss 1, Pp 1-3 (2024)

Abstract The opioid epidemic has taken the lives of thousands of people across North America and Europe. Moreover, lack of housing, inflation, and a rapidly changing economy have affected millions of people, and many have become homeless. Many governments, researchers, health agencies, and not-for-profits have offered innovative ways to tackle this crisis, including many harm-reduction technologies that rely on Internet. In the age of the first artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, where reliance and accessibility to Internet have become a necessity for finding jobs, housing, affordable food, social services, social connection, and staying alive, the creation of free Wi-Fi zones around inner city neighborhood by towns and municipalities is not only a cost-effective way to reduce death, social costs, but a human rights issue during the initial stage of first A.I. revolution.