Between 1999 and 2017, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that over 702,000 people in the United States died from
drug overdose. Then, in 2017 alone, 70,000 people met the same fate.
There is much to be done in the fight against opioid addiction and overdose death, but one proven method is safe injection sites. But to date, there has not been a single safe injection site opened in the United States.
Sign the petition and ask that the states with the highest drug overdose mortality rate allot funding for safe injection sites!These states are West Virginia (WV), Ohio (OH), Pennsylvania (PA), the District of Columbia, and Kentucky (KY).
They should be leading the way in protecting folks suffering from the heartbreaking disease of addiction. Drug addiction is not a crime. Often, a person's dependence on a substance arises from a doctor's prescribing them opioid pain relievers. Because of their highly addictive nature, opioids are often misused, and as a person's tolerance rises and their ability to acquire prescription pills wanes, many switch to the cheaper, more dangerous alternative - heroin.
Data shows us that 80% of heroin users first misused opioids. Philadelphia recently made headlines when it announced plans to open a safe injection site in one of its neighborhoods. However, a lack of communication between city bureaucracy, community members, and the nonprofit opening the site forced the project to be postponed indefinitely.
We cannot afford for red tape to get in the way of saving lives. This crisis has institutional roots and requires a standardized, widespread, and fierce response.
At safe injection sites, addicts are provided with a safe environment, clean needles, and non-judgmental supervision. In the case of an overdose, professionals are ready with Narcan, a drug used to block the effects of opioids and save lives. These sites provide the possibility of healthcare and consultation for folks who have historically been denied that right, due to fear of judgment or legal action.
Studies show that drug users who attend safe injection sites are more likely to transition into addiction treatment.Addiction is a disease, and those suffering deserve for it to be studied and treated like one. The United States cannot delay anymore.
Please, sign the petition and demand that the following states' Departments of Health provide funding for safe injection sites:WV | OH | PA | D.C. | KYThen, contact your local representatives and let them know why they should support safe injection sites!