Fight back: Justice Department threatens states for saving lives

This week, the Justice Department threatened states that are moving forward with supervised consumption services despite their proven record of reducing overdose deaths and saving lives.

Supervised consumption spaces (SCS) are safe spaces for people to inject drugs under the supervision of staff trained to treat and prevent drug overdose and link people to drug treatment, housing and other services. The science has proven that these services are effective at reducing HIV and hepatitis C, overdose deaths, and increasing uptake to medical and social services, including drug treatment.

With eight states now on the verge of implementing this life-saving strategy, the Justice Department’s threat is a reaction to all the incredible progress we’ve made.

We’ve been building support in the U.S. Senate to protect states from these federal threats. Help us fight back: tell your U.S. Senators to protect states considering supervised consumption spaces from federal interference.

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Your Message

Subject Protect states considering supervised consumption spaces

Dear Senator,

Message Body

As your constituent, I urge you to protect states that chose to move forward with supervised consumption spaces that have a proven record of reducing overdose deaths and saving lives.

The Justice Department ignored a mountain of evidence and came out strong against supervised consumption spaces. In an op-ed in the New York Times, Rod J. Rosenstein, deputy attorney general of the United States, threatened states that are moving forward with this life-saving strategy.

There are about 120 sites that provide SCS currently operating around the world, in places like Canada, Australia, and Spain. And the science has proven that these services are effective at reducing HIV and hepatitis C, overdose deaths, and increasing uptake to medical and social services, including drug treatment.

Despite overwhelming evidence of the benefits, there are no SCS currently operating in the United States. But to combat the overdose crisis, SCS are now being considered in San Francisco, Philadelphia, Seattle, Ithaca, New York City, Denver, Maryland, Massachusetts and Vermont.
 
The Justice Department’s aggressive stance coincides with California becoming the first state legislature to pass supervised consumption site legislation. The legislation would create a three-year pilot program allowing San Francisco to implement and evaluate supervised drug consumption programs. The bill is off to Governor Jerry Brown and awaits his signature. Governor Jerry Brown has until September 30 to sign or veto the bill.

With the overdose crisis claiming 72,000 preventable deaths just last year, it’s shameful that the federal government is attacking states trying to prevent overdose and prioritizing punishment over preserving life.

States should be able to pursue supervised consumption services to save lives without the threat of interference from the Justice Department. I hope you will protect states that want to move forward with supervised consumption services. Thank you.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]
[Your Address]

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