Boston City Council shows support for safe injection sites

"The majority of the Boston City Council expressed their support Wednesday for legislation that would allow for the establishment of safe injection sites in the city and around the state. They did so by voting down a resolution that sought to declare the body's opposition to pending legislation on Beacon Hill. The vote comes as Boston officials face continued outcry from residents who say that public drug use and the safety concerns that come with it are getting worse and spreading to new neighborhoods."

"That bill, which was the subject of a hearing last week, provides a framework for cities and towns to establish designated areas where healthcare workers can supervise "persons who use pre-obtained substances." Safe injection sites, also known as overdose prevention centers, are touted by supporters as places where people who would be using drugs anyway can do so with a decreased risk of dying or spreading disease."

"City data shows that opioid-related overdose deaths dropped dramatically in Boston last year. Councilors ultimately voted 8-3 against the resolution, with only Flynn, Murphy, and Fitzgerald casting votes in its favor. In pushing the resolution, Flynn argued that the creation of safe injection sites would only incentivize drug use at a time when officials owe it to their constituents to take a firm stance against anything that could exacerbate the problems facing residents."

Boston City Council rejected an anti-safe-injection-sites resolution by an 8-3 margin while expressing support for state legislation enabling supervised consumption areas. The proposed legislation would allow cities and towns to create designated spaces where healthcare workers monitor people using pre-obtained substances. Supporters characterize these sites as overdose prevention centers that reduce deaths, disease transmission, litter, and municipal costs without increasing crime or drug use. Opposing councilors argued the bill risks worsening the public health crisis and could incentivize drug use. City data showed opioid-related overdose deaths dropped dramatically in Boston last year.

Read at Boston.com