Drug Policy Investigative Reporter

As an addiction crisis sweeps New York state, killing a record-breaking nearly 6,000 New Yorkers from overdoses last year, New York Focus seeks a reporter to produce a series of investigative stories examining the intersection of the state’s addiction treatment and criminal justice systems. The drug policy investigative reporter will aim to uncover the inner workings of institutions tasked with addressing the current drug crisis. Many of its causes are understood: We know that the over-prescription of name-brand opioids launched thousands of patients into addiction; that the proliferation of fentanyl has driven deadly overdoses; and that many drug users find themselves in a cycle of criminalization that, tangled with addiction, ensnares them in two fatal traps at once. We know almost nothing, by contrast, about New York state’s extensive system of addiction treatment facilities. These institutions treat many thousands of disproportionately poor and marginalized patients, many of them sent there by court and parole mandates. The drug policy investigative reporter will seek to expose how that system works, from the experiences of patients and staff inside it to the oversight of agencies tasked with regulating it. This is a one-year full time position, with the possibility of renewal, that requires demonstrated investigative skills. The position can be based anywhere in New York state. Please submit a cover letter, résumé, and three clips, including examples of investigative reporting, to hires@nysfocus.com. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis; apply as soon as you can.