We need overdose prevention sites to address Maryland’s opioid crisis

Views expressed in opinion columns are the writer’s personal.

The Biden administration’s federal pardon on hashish possession is a probably strong begin for ushering in a brand new period of drug coverage in America. The blanket pardon comes with a name regarding the “expeditious” reassessment of hashish as a Schedule 1 drug. Nevertheless, that is merely a step in the appropriate route, not a closing vacation spot. The unjust imprisonment of individuals for hashish possession within the first place is a symptom of a extra overarching drawback: the criminalization of habit.

Merely reclassifying medicine doesn’t get to the foundation of the issue. In 2018, greater than two thousand Marylanders misplaced their lives to opioids, a price that interprets to greater than 5 opioid-related deaths each day. In 2020 alone, greater than an estimated 68,000 People died from opioid overdoses — extra than the mixed American loss of life tolls within the Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq wars. The opioid disaster has ravaged communities in America for many years, and coverage proposals haven’t been sturdy sufficient to fight it. The state of Maryland must set precedent by implementing overdose prevention websites and treating drug abuse for what it’s: a well being drawback. Overdose prevention websites are region-specific amenities the place drug customers can inject previously-obtained unlawful substances with sterile gear. Moreover, sufferers are supervised and topic to speedy intervention within the occasion of an emergency. This system additionally streamlines sufferers into remedy packages that assist them combat habit.

This rehabilitative method to habit shouldn’t be merely a hypothetical thought on paper — it’s backed by tried and true outcomes internationally. For example, within the run-up to the flip of the century, Portugal had an excessive drug drawback, and an estimated one % of the inhabitants was hooked on heroin. Now, the drug-induced loss of life price in Portugal is 2 % of America’s drug-induced loss of life price. 

How did Portugal repair its drug drawback? In 2001, the nation decriminalized all medicine and non-governmental organizations similar to Crescer spearheaded outreach initiatives with unofficial overdose prevention websites that confirmed addicts they had been sufferers, not criminals. Against this, the U.S. continued to dehumanize and imprison addicts based mostly on century-old racist and draconian drug insurance policies.

The advances in Portugal will not be distinctive. In 2003, Vancouver, Canada, made historical past by opening the primary authorized supervised injection website — a federally sanctioned OPS — in North America. Canadian researchers Jennifer Ng, Christy Sutherland and Michael R. Kolber concluded that “proof from cohort and modeling research means that SIS’s are related to decrease overdose mortality… 67% fewer ambulance requires treating overdoses, and a lower in HIV infections.” 

From Vancouver to Barcelona, Spain, research throughout the globe have discovered these supervised drug use websites dramatically cut back deaths, crime and HIV transmission charges whereas enhancing well being outcomes and the overall welfare. Moreover, the research of a hypothetical OPS in Baltimore predicted it could convey in additional than 100 rehab sufferers whereas producing virtually a internet $6 million in financial savings by avoiding the prices of the American well being care system. For Marylanders, these websites current a revolutionary resolution to fight the opioid disaster.

Lastly, some areas within the U.S. are adopting this method, with Rhode Island changing into the primary state to legalize OPS’s in 2021, and nonprofits in New York Metropolis opening rits OPS doorways later that 12 months. It’s time for Maryland to observe go well with.

As Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott penned in Maryland Issues, “It’s time for our state legislators to acknowledge the success of our neighbors, each up Interstate 95 and overseas, and take motion to avoid wasting lives — together with passing laws permitting the institution of life-saving OPS’s all through the state.” In Annapolis, the laws Scott referred to by no means made it previous committee in 2021. The coverage notice even remarks the invoice wouldn’t require any extra funding. Because the invoice didn’t move, hundreds of Marylanders could have died preventable deaths. 

This invoice to determine OPS’s must be revived and enacted as quickly as doable to stop tomorrow’s deaths right here in Maryland. With sturdy statistical proof and peak political help, Maryland legislators have to strike whereas the iron is sizzling to avoid wasting our communities and at last deal with habit like the general public well being affliction that it’s. 

America wants to return to phrases with the truth that the “Conflict on Medication” has solely ever succeeded in a single war-related method: killing People. These insurance policies have left numerous dad and mom, siblings, lovers and pals in its wake. Present archaic drug coverage has accomplished unfathomable hurt to Maryland, however a treatment is lastly right here by way of OPS’s. Repeating our previous errors in relation to habit could be as catastrophic as it could be negligent.

Rohin Mishra is a sophomore economics and authorities main. He will be reached at rohinpmishra@gmail.com.