Santa Monica City Council Should Follow New York City ’s Example and Authorize Overdose Prevention Centers

Jeffrey A. SingerFirst California ’s governor disappoints harm reduction advocates byvetoing SB. 57, which would have added the country ’s most populous state to the growing movement to legalize Overdose Prevention Centers (also known as “safe consumption sites”). Next we learn that Santa Monica’s City Council wants tostop syringe services programs (also known as “needle exchange programs”) from meeting people who inject drugs where they live.At today ’s Santa Monica City Council meeting, the Council will be asked to approve a letter, authored by Councilmembers Lana Negrete and Phil Brock, addressed to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors that states the following:It has come to our attention that the Venice Family Clinic under the purview of the Los Angeles Department of Public Health, Substance Abuse and Prevention and Control Division is providing clean needles to individuals in our parks and open spaces through the Harm Reduction Syringe Services Program …We understand our limited regulatory authority, however, rather than implement this program in our parks and open spaces, we seek your assistance in immediately moving this program to a service rich environment (preferably indoors) where individuals in need of substance abuse, mental health, and other services can coordinate and work directly with service providers. (emphasis added)Mobile syringe services programs (SSPs) are an important variant of this proven —and federally enco...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - Category: American Health Authors: Source Type: blogs