SUPPORT OVERDOSE PREVENTION SITES
Overdose deaths continue to rise in the United States, Colorado, and in Denver.
Last year, just in Denver, 575 folks died of a drug related death, our most ever. People we know, love, and serve are dying of preventable overdoses. It doesn't have to be like this.
We ask the state of Colorado to take all necessary steps to authorize and establish an overdose prevention site as a public health intervention to reduce HIV and viral hepatitis transmission, increase public safety, promote access to drug treatment and other supportive care, and save lives now.
There is a bill in the Colorado State Legislature this year - HB24-1028 - Join us in supporting this legislation by signing on to our coalition below.
Every overdose death is preventable. We need your support TODAY. Please sign on to support this initiative and make sure you have factual health information to help us educate others in the community about the dire need for an overdose prevention center.
Overdose prevention sites bridge the gap between people who use drugs and public health interventions that are proven to reduce the spread of HIV and viral hepatitis while also preventing fatal overdoses. In fact, of 200 OPC currently operating in 17 countries around the globe.
Denver currently lacks proper public health interventions to significantly reduce rates of public drug use, something many businesses experience in the form of people utilizing public bathrooms to inject as well as open injecting and smoking in common spaces such as parks, sidewalks, and alleyways. These public environments are neither sterile or safe and, sadly, are often the very places where people, without proper supervision or intervention, die of preventable overdose death.
A Denver overdose prevention site would significantly impact rates of public drug use and would serve to help connect our marginalized community members to evidence-based healthcare and support by providing a space where participants can engage with knowledgeable professionals to receive other healthcare services such as access to substance use or mental health providers. Numerous peer-reviewed scientific studies have proven the positive impacts of overdose prevention sites.
These benefits include:
• Increased access to drug treatment, especially among people who distrust the treatment system and are unlikely to seek treatment on their own.
• Reduced public disorder, reduced public injecting, and increased public safety.
• Attracting and retaining a high risk population of people who inject drugs, who are at heightened risk for infectious disease and overdose.
• Reduced HIV and Hepatitis C risk behavior (e.g. syringe and other injection equipment sharing, unsafe sex).
• Reducing the prevalence and harms of bacterial infections (e.g. staph infection, endocarditis).
• Successfully managing overdoses and reducing overdose death rates.
• Cost savings resulting from reduced disease, overdoses, and need for emergency medical services, and increased preventive healthcare and drug treatment utilization.
• Not increasing community drug use.
• Not increasing initiation into injection drug use.
• Not increasing drug-related crime.
In short, an overdose prevention center is beneficial to both businesses and the community at large, as it would help direct people who inject drugs from parks, business bathrooms, and alleys and into a controlled, private, and staffed environment.
How can you help?
In November 2018, Denver City Council passed an ordinance that can go into effect with Statewide Legislation. Support the opening of an overdose prevention site in Denver for a healthier and safer community.
Sign our pledge to support an evidence-based intervention to prevent disease and death in a manner that meets the needs of our citizens and our community’s organizations.