Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George is creating a commission to study whether the county should allow so-called safe injection sites, where street drug users would have medical supervision and would be exempt from arrest.
George said she is not taking a formal position on the idea but wants an “open and honest discussion” about whether the sites could help in the fight against opiate abuse.
While George did not provide details, the sites generally allow users to inject drugs that they purchased illegally — without fear of prosecution. Rep. Selene Colburn (P/D-Burlington) introduced a bill earlier this year that would legalize such sites in Vermont.
“People in our community are committing countless crimes, losing their jobs, losing custody of their children and even dying because of this disease,” George said in a prepared statement. “I have an obligation to examine all potential solutions that could reduce overdoses and deaths and keep our community safe.”
The proposal comes after Vermont had a record number of opiate overdose deaths in 2016, despite a series of initiatives to address the problem.
Seattle officials announced earlier this year that they would open a safe injection site.
George is scheduled to hold a press conference next week to discuss the commission, which will include Burlington Police Chief Brandon del Pozo, Deputy Police Chief Shawn Burke, Vermont Cares director Peter Jacobsen, Howard Center program coordinator Tom Dalton, Vermont Cares harm reduction program manager Theresa Vezina, Rapid Intervention Community Court coordinator Emmet Helrich and University of Vermont Medical Center physician Patricia Fisher.
Got something to say?
Send a letter to the editor and we'll publish your feedback in print!
How is condemnation of an illegal activity a good thing for the government to endorse, and why is a public official using taxpayer dollars to research this awful idea? The money would be better spent on treatment programs and law enforcement. The problem will never go away by saying ” come shoot up here in this safe place. Then go out to the streets high as a kite and rob so you can pay for more drugs and we will see you here again soon.” That is not the answer to America’s opioid problem. It’s as bad as the doctors that handing out perks like candy that started this hole mess in the first place.
Good for the State’s Attorney for bringing up this emotional but important issue.
Programs in place like Vancouver and Sydney, and in Switzerland, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands have shown that they can be an effective tool for reducing harm and saving lives.
Supervised injection sites can help reduce overdoses, prevent the transmission of blood borne diseases like HIV and Hep C, endocarditis, and other life-thereatening complications of injection drug use.
Just as importantly, the sites can serve as effective referral centers for counseling, substance abuse treatment, medical testing and treatment, and other important public health and life-saving services.
As a society, we need to decide that the lives of drug users are worth saving, that long term recovery is possible, and that we will commit ourselves to the programming that helps accomplish that – instead of pursuing the failed policies that devalue the lives of users and result in massive social and economic costs for Vermont families and taxpayers.
Injection sites may or may not be an appropriate answer for Chittenden County, but it is promising that a criminal justice leader is willing to take the lead on exploring the approaches that might help. In the end, the answers should be based on the principles of public health and ethics of saving lives, rooted in the best science available.
Thank you Sarah George for this courageous action.
How about “coffee houses” for marijuana addicts like in Holland?