A California lawmaker wants people to be supervised regarding the usage of heroin, crack, opioids and other drugs. The proposal, called AB2495, says there should be legal drug injection sites in the nation, which will be a first if implemented.
In a report by Hanford Sentinel, assemblywoman Susan Talamantes Eggman introduced the proposal on Tuesday in an effort to address the growing number of drug overdoses not only in California but nationwide. This comes after United States President Barack Obama and his administration have announced new actions to combat the heroin and opioid abuse epidemic during the National RX Abuse and Heroin Summit.
However, lawmakers seemed reluctant to support the measure as they postponed a committee vote set on April 17. If the proposal is signed, it would be legal for local and state health departments to allow the use of controlled substances in clinics that could offer medical intervention. Several U.S. cities are considering the supervised injection sites such as San Francisco in order to reduce the risk of overdose, SF Gate reported.
San Francisco Supervisor David Campos proposed the creation of a supervised injection facility in the city but his idea was opposed by Mayor Ed Lee.
Other people opposing AB2495 are the California Police Chiefs Association, the California College and University Police Chiefs Association, and the California Narcotics Officers' Association. Asha Harris of the California State Sheriffs' Association said in a statement that the proposal sends the "wrong message regarding drug use and is likely to create civil liability issues for participating governments and officials."
Despite the opposition, Canadian Senator Larry Campbell, a former Vancouver mayor and former police officer, urged lawmakers to pass the bill. ABC News reported that Campbell helped create the first supervised injection site in North America back in 2003 and deaths have been prevented.
The Canadian facility has overseen more than two million injections and it costs $2 million annually to be managed. Accordingly, it saved the state $1.5 million in health care costs due to the decreased emergency room visits.
