In 2018, officials in the U.S. city of Philadelphia city proposed opening a “safe haven” in an effort to combat the city's heroin epidemic. In 2016 64,070 people died in the U.S. from drug overdoses - a 21% increase from 2015. 3/4 of drug overdose deaths in the U.S. are caused by the opioid class of drugs which includes prescription painkillers, heroin and fentanyl. To combat the epidemic cities including Vancouver, BC and Sydney, AUS opened safe havens where addicts can inject drugs under the supervision of medical professionals. The safe havens reduce the overdose death…
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@7YS3KJPIndependent 7mos7MO
No; we do not have either the state or government resources necessary to properly implement such a solution. However, funding for rehabilitation centers should be increased and drug abuse should be treated as a health issue first.
@9Y7V9M58mos8MO
Ye but to an extent, treat drug addiction as a health issue and use the professional help to ween them off of the drugs their addicted to
@9VYPT86 8mos8MO
This alone does not solve the root issue, they need to be supported not in using drugs but also in getting a job or home and rehabilitation. Maybe they use drugs supervised for a while, but giving them hope is what is most important in changing their addiction. Otherwise this “safe haven” doesn’t work and wastes resources.
@9XJVRTWProgressive8mos8MO
Yes, but these should be separate from the public. Any public intoxication that is deemed a nuisance should result in mandatory rehabilitation.
@7YS3KJPIndependent 8mos8MO
I understand the justification behind the idea, but there are large-scale logistical and funding problems that would make this very difficult to implement successfully in the US - and I think we’ve seen some of that in the cities that have tried it. I would increase funding for rehabilitation centers, support the institution of quality control measures to prevent unscientific treatments from creeping in, and lower the classifications of certain drugs and prison sentences for possessing them.
@9V2QHW9 9mos9MO
This idea could be blended into traditional rehab centers to help patients come off the drug they are addicted to by slowly lowering the dose they are taking.
@9V2JJF59mos9MO
Yes, this will reduce the drug overdose death rate and it should be treated as a health issue, not a criminal issue.
@7MG7ZB2Libertarian3yrs3Y
No, but increase funding for rehabilitation centers and decriminalize addiction.
Yes, but only if they participate in a mandatory, strict, and thorough rehabilitation treatment program in which they must end their addiction or be placed into a mental institution until their addiction is ended.
@7YS3KJPIndependent4yrs4Y
No, but I would increase funding for rehabilitation centers, support the institution of quality control measures to prevent unscientific treatments from creeping in, and lower the classifications of certain drugs and prison sentences for possessing them.
@99BXTH22yrs2Y
Yes, but the "safe havens" should be connected to enhanced rehabilitation facilities to better the lives of those who are addicted
Yes, drug use is a medical and health issue, and these heavens should also try to rehabilitate the people as well.
@obnoxiously-moderate3yrs3Y
No, cities should open drug "keeps" where users cannot leave but can choose between having as much drugs as they want or graduating from an onsite rehabilitation program.
@932V85R3yrs3Y
No, encourage and fund rehab programs instead.
@9XKJ2TX8mos8MO
I believe this is the first step to a safer drug wise world. We need to allow people who are addicted now to be treated without criminal persucution, (except in the more extreme cases, like those that end with rape or murder) as it can then change the conversation. Addicts wouldnt be scared and can get more help and even more importantly, ASK FOR HELP.
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