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Friend, I’m excited to share that Minnesota just became the 2nd state in the country to officially support overdose prevention centers.
Today, Governor Tim Walz signed Senate File 2934, the Human Services budget proposal. It includes language mandating the Minnesota Commissioner of Human Services to establish safe recovery sites that offer harm reductions services and supplies including safe injection spaces, otherwise known as overdose prevention centers. And it includes more than $14 million for start-up and capacity-building grants to establish safe recovery sites.
We applaud advocates and lawmakers in Minnesota for making this victory possible. It creates a pathway for the state to officially sanction overdose prevention centers to help save lives and address the tragic overdose crisis.
Overdose prevention centers (OPCs) are proven to reduce overdose deaths and are vital to addressing the overdose crisis. They provide a safe space for people to consume pre-obtained drugs under the supervision of a trained staff, without fear of arrest. OPCs also provide access to sterile consumption equipment, overdose reversal medication, drug checking tools, and connections to critical health and social services.
Today’s news comes on the heels of another win in Minnesota just last week expanding access to harm reduction services and legalizing drug paraphernalia and contained residues.
Most Americans agree that drug use is a health issue, not a criminal one. Minnesota is just the latest example of states taking bold steps to replace punitive drug laws with health approaches that are proven to keep people safer.
As we celebrate these milestones, we must also keep fighting to fully end the drug war and all the ways it’s harming people and communities. That includes advancing reforms to decriminalize drugs, invest in needed community supports and services, and so much more.
With your continued support, we are advocating to accomplish that across the country.
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Sincerely,
Emily Kaltenbach
Senior Director, Criminal Legal & Policing Reform
Drug Policy Alliance |
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