September 14, 2017 – A controversial strategy to address the region’s drug epidemic was discussed by the major party candidates running to become the next district attorney of Philadelphia.
According to NBC10, both nominees expressed an openness to support safe injection sites, a designated place where people can use drugs under supervision. Currently, no such area exists in the United States.
Malvern Treatment Center’s Dr. Michael Shore, medical director of the Cherry Hill outpatient center, wrote this summer how these sites fail to appropriately address substance addiction, stressing that there isn’t anything safe about the proposed plan.
“While many other questions and considerations are important, in essence this approach is in some ways legitimizing the continued addiction to an increasingly deadly illicit drug,” Shore wrote. “What message does this send to young people?”
Here’s what both candidates had to say:
“I will support properly run and appropriately located supervised injection facilities,” Larry Krasner, the Democratic nominee, announced. “No child should have to avoid dirty needles on the way to school. No mother should lose her son to a preventable overdose. No community should have to live with the problems of an entire society on its doorstep.”
“It is a public safety issue,” Beth Grossman, the Republican candidate said. “It is a public health issue and I think if there could be a safe injection site for those who are addicted it could clean up some issues that go with it.”
If you or a loved one are living with drug addiction and have any questions about the Malvern Intervention Services or the Malvern 90-Day Model, please give us a call at 610.MALVERN (610.625.8376).
Read the full story on NBC10.