An initiative that would ban safe consumption sites in King County gathered enough signatures to appear on a ballot but may never make it.
Safe consumption sites are places where drug users may take substances under medical supervision. It’s considered a harm-reduction strategy because users will not use dirty needles or other implements, and can receive medical treatment.
The group behind the initiative, Safe King County, says on its website that heroin use is a public health crisis and that the sites are “inconsistent with protecting citizens and helping drug addicts.” They believe that the ban would encourage government to offer treatment rather than continued drug use. A lawsuit to invalidate the initiative was filed Aug. 21.
Ashley Archibald is a Staff Reporter covering local government, policy and equity. Have a story idea? She can be can reached at ashleya (at) realchangenews (dot) org. Twitter @AshleyA_RC
Wait, there's more. Check out articles in the full August 23 issue.
Real Change is reader supported. Just $5 a month provides work for more than 300 active vendors and keeps community journalism strong.