Drug Decriminalization Saves Lives. Why Aren't We Doing It?

 In These Times -The criminalization of drugs hasn’t kept them from becoming a public health hazard — and we can’t just pretend they don’t exist. More than 106,000 people died of drug overdoses in 2021 in the United States, a number that has doubled since 2015. Three-quarters of the overdose deaths in 2021 were from opioid use, and nearly 3 million Americans struggle with opioid use disorder today. To help affected people, many are arguing for a policy of ​“harm reduction” to make drug use less risky. . .One facility in Vancouver, Canada, has responded to more than 6,000 overdoses since opening in 2003 without a single death — and the number of fatal overdoses has also decreased in the surrounding area. A proposed safe consumption site in Philadelphia would likely prevent dozens of deaths annually. Importantly, the sites provide a safe place for people who use drugs, who are often facing myriad social and emotional challenges, to be treated with respect.