Recent shifts in US policy and the approach to public health have placed renewed pressure on communities that already face significant health and social challenges. Policy decisions increasingly prioritize criminalization or abstinence-based strategies over interventions that have been consistently shown to reduce harm. These choices reflect a broader trend of sidelining empirical evidence, with real-world consequences for public health.

As a result, morbidity and mortality have increased among people who use drugs, experience homelessness, or who are involved in the US criminal justice system. Rates of preventable illness and infectious disease are also rising. Rhetoric and stigma further undermine public trust and discourage engagement with health services, disproportionately affecting marginalized populations.

Harm Reduction Journal has commissioned a collection of articles to highlight how evidence-based harm reduction strategies – grounded in science, dignity and practical outcomes – can inform more effective, humane public health responses.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3, Good Health and Well-Being, SDG 5, Gender Equality, SDG 10, Reduced Inequalities, and SDG 16, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

All submissions in this collection undergo the journal’s standard peer review process. Similarly, all manuscripts authored by a Guest Editor(s) will be handled by the Editor-in-Chief. As an open access publication, this journal levies an article processing fee (details here). We recognize that many key stakeholders may not have access to such resources and are committed to supporting participation in this issue wherever resources are a barrier. For more information about what support may be available, please visit OA funding and support, or email OAfundingpolicy@springernature.com or the Editor-in-Chief.

BMC Global and Public Health is calling for submissions to our Collection on innovative approaches to combating one of the world’s most persistent health challenges. This Collection seeks to explore scientific, policy, and community-driven advancements aimed at achieving sustainable solutions for malaria elimination and improving the lives of affected populations.

The goal of this Collection is to highlight progress, identify remaining challenges, and showcase actionable strategies to support malaria elimination efforts. Topics of interest include but are not limited to:

Development and deployment of new antimalarial drugs and vaccines

Innovative diagnostic tools and technologies for malaria detection

Community-based interventions to enhance prevention and treatment uptake

Evaluation of insecticide resistance and vector control programs

Policy and governance frameworks to strengthen malaria elimination efforts

Economic and social analyses of malaria programs and their sustainability

Addressing health equity and access disparities in malaria-endemic regions

We encourage work from local, regional, national, and global partnerships and collaboration among multidisciplinary scientists using multiple methodologies. We ask that authors be careful to use non-stigmatizing/preferred language in their manuscripts as outlined in relevant language guidelines for their respective fields.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being.

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer-review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.