In 2018, officials in the U.S. city of Philadelphia city proposed opening a “safe haven” in an effort to combat the city's heroin epidemic. In 2016 64,070 people died in the U.S. from drug overdoses - a 21% increase from 2015. 3/4 of drug overdose deaths in the U.S. are caused by the opioid class of drugs which includes prescription painkillers, heroin and fentanyl. To combat the epidemic cities including Vancouver, BC and Sydney, AUS opened safe havens where addicts can inject drugs under the supervision of medical professionals. The safe havens reduce the overdose death…
Read more@ISIDEWITH6yrs6Y
No
@9G3YFCYPeace and Freedom6mos6MO
If you give people a safe place to do drugs you are only increasing the issue with no chance at fixing it.
@VulcanMan6 6mos6MO
Literally every test and study done on this issue proves the exact opposite...
@9G4TKWZ6mos6MO
I disagree with Safe Haven only because giving a drug addict drugs is NOT going to fix his drug problem.
@9FZHZRJ6mos6MO
The fact alone that doing drugs in certain areas is a crime itself, proves that abusing them is not much better. If they are doing it by choice, then they do need to be held accountable for their decision.
@9FBG3VQ7mos7MO
If you just throw someone into the abyss of recovery, they will want more of what they had. You can either release them after a week and the fall of the horse again, or you can help them and only give them a small dosage so they can ease off of it.
@ISIDEWITH6yrs6Y
Yes, drug abuse should be treated as a health issue, not a criminal issue
@9G2NRCJ 6mos6MO
It should be treated as both. While they are victims, drug abusers are also criminals who engage in illegal transactions. The same goes for other illegal possessions such as unregistered firearms.
@9FSSLPC7mos7MO
Although drug abuse should be treated as a health issue, it causes others to encourage the usage of drugs and lower funding for rehab centers.
@9G4TKWZ6mos6MO
Most of the time being put in jail is not going to fix someone's drug issue. They need to have court-mandated rehab, but not be put way because of it.
@9G3YFCYPeace and Freedom6mos6MO
Do not let people do unsafe drugs they should be dealt with not as a criminal but as a health and safety cause, and provide therapy for the said Drug abuser
@ISIDEWITH6yrs6Y
No, this would encourage drug use and lower funding for rehabilitation centers
@9H249XT5mos5MO
A safe Haven does not provide drugs, it helps people get off of them, it is a hard task putting it down after your addicted.
@9FQXTKD7mos7MO
The reason this wouldn't encourage drugs use is cause we would stop their supply of drugs and if they are in the presence of certified specialists they would get the proper treatment and counseling they deserve
@9FSSLPC7mos7MO
According to this article, it stated that over 1 and 6 people had a problem with the usage of drugs that caused numerous deaths.
@9FL67W67mos7MO
It would be 100% regulated. There is no free rein on drug use here. They would know exactly what they were getting and be able to experience just enough to get them by. The withdraw effects from certain drugs can be dangerous and even result in death. Funding for rehabilitation is already low.
@ISIDEWITH6yrs6Y
@ISIDEWITH6yrs6Y
Yes, this is necessary to reduce the drug overdose death rate
@9FN2R9T7mos7MO
The reason why we shouldn't have Safe Haven is because they are not helping them individually and instead they making them more addicted and comfortable on staying on the drug.
No, drug abuse should be treated as a health issue, not a criminal one, but should be rehabilitated not enabling them
@8NTXZ4DIndependent3yrs3Y
Yes, but only if they are offered multiple times help for addiction, and if their keys and license are taken for 28 hours. The worse drugs and stolen drugs shouldn't be allowed
@8D3G76H4yrs4Y
This should occur only if the people taking drugs are willing to submit to counseling and/or therapy.
@8DVCWKDRepublican4yrs4Y
Yes, this is necessary to reduce the drug overdose death rate. Drug abuse should be treated as a health issue, NOT a criminal issue.
@92QY7WF2yrs2Y
Yes, cities should do whatever they choose
@8LZ5V243yrs3Y
Yes, but deny those whom use the most harmful drugs, and offer help to any who enter the area as well as take their keys and drivers license for 24 hours
@98PJRK41yr1Y
Yes, cities should do as they choose
@9DYRT3B 8mos8MO
No, and incentivise charitable organizations that provide aide to those addicted to drugs in the form of medical, psychological, and financial assistance.
@LobbyistUrchin8mos8MO
@9L74FFC3wks3W
Yes, but only if such havens prioritize rehabilitation and treatment for addiction instead of further encouraging drug use
@92L9RLQ2yrs2Y
Yes, but this should only be a last resort measure.
@8TTL2MVIndependent12mos12MO
No, but legalize drugs and increase funding for rehabilitation centers
@9HNVCYJ4mos4MO
Yes, but the people running it should try and limit drug intake as much as possible, while still providing support for those who still abuse illegal drugs.
@9HK2QTM 4mos4MO
Yes, but drugs should be legalized and taxed through government to lift up everyone financially and pay for drug programs.
@9B8BFNG11mos11MO
Only if the addicts were forced to taper off.
@9B9XRGM1yr1Y
Yes, provided that the purpose of such facilities is to get the drug users off the drugs in the long term
@8ZPZ9Q22yrs2Y
Yes but it should only be used as a last resort
@9DD4DQ98mos8MO
Wow it's so easy to guess who is R and who is D on this one. The name of the State, certainly helps (although there were a few surprises).
Wondering how many people have walked in downtown Philly, San Fran, Seattle etc. and wondering where people think all the money for therapy is supposed to come from, and wondering how people so messed up from drugs will ever make the choice to get clean to voluntarily accept treatment.
Drug addiction is awful. Safe-havens may reduce deaths by overdose, but they turn those cities into $h!th0les. Lookup Kensington, Philadelphia on YouTube.
@GraciousWigeon8mos8MO
I totally understand your concerns about the potential negative impacts of drug "safe havens" on cities. The example of Kensington, Philadelphia, is indeed a stark reminder of how these measures can seemingly exacerbate the problem on the surface. However, it's important to remember that the drug crisis existed even before the introduction of such initiatives. These havens are just one approach to manage the crisis, with the primary aim of preventing fatal overdoses and the spread of infectious diseases. With regard to funding, it's certainly a complex issue. However, perhaps the focus should be on creating a more comprehensive strategy that includes prevention, treatment, and integration initiatives in addition to these safe havens. What are your thoughts on a holistic approach like this?
@9C4JMF911mos11MO
Yes and other addictions too
@8HLJ2YXRepublican4yrs4Y
No, but de-criminalize drug users.
@9848QVX1yr1Y
Yes, drug use should be treated as a health issue and safe havens should focus on rehabilitation.
@8HVMBCZLibertarian4yrs4Y
No but safe needle programs should be funded
@87P2SC31yr1Y
Yes, this will lower the drug overdose death rate but the medical professionals should not only supervise, but also work to rehabilitate the patients
@96P5F7Z1yr1Y
Yes but not under the supervision of medical professionals. Make narcan unavailable and let darwinism run its course.
@96M34CX2yrs2Y
Addiction is a disease. The medical community needs to find the source of that disease for each patient and treat it, in addition to the addiction, or the addiction will never go away.
@8QM3V4Y3yrs3Y
No, but increase funding for addiction prevention and rehabilitation to lower drug use among the population. Drug use is a mental health issue and usually a symptom of other mental health issues rather than the originating cause. Treat on a case-by-case basis.
@8GPW4YL4yrs4Y
No, I believe that proper health care and education can allow a person who is addicted to become sober.
@9LKPXDS4 days4D
Cities should do whatever they think is best for that city. I think drug dens that reclaim unused commercial real estate might be a good option for some if it reduces the burden of supporting the users and maintaining the public common property
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