Drug Paraphernalia Laws Undermine Harm Reduction

Jeffrey A. SingerWith overdose deaths from non ‐​medical drug use skyrocketing to a horrifying108,000 in 2021,state andfederal policymakers are finally beginning to appreciateharm reduction strategies that can reduce the risk death and disease from using drugs obtained in the black market fueled by drug prohibition. These strategies include syringe services programs (also called SSPs or “needle‐​exchange programs”), distributing drug testing devices such as fentanyl test strips, and distributing the overdose antidote naloxone (which is inexplicably still classified asprescription ‐​only by the Food and Drug Administration). Unfortunately, drug paraphernalia laws undermine these efforts.Federal drug law mainly prohibits the interstate sale or distribution of a list of items and devices statutorily defined as “drug paraphernalia.” More immediate obstacles to harm reduction are the numerous state‐​level drug paraphernalia laws that prohibit intrastate sale or distribution of a myriad of devices and objects listed as drug paraphernalia. Such laws make it difficult —if not impossible—for harm reduction organizations, many of which are privately run and privately funded, from performing their important work. Some states enact carve‐​outs to their paraphernalia laws to allow such organizations to legally function, but they often come with onerous conditi ons and restrictions. If policymakers are want to seriously embrace harm reduc...

Source: Cato-at-liberty - June 7, 2022 Category: American Health Authors: Jeffrey A. Singer Source Type: blogs