It is a tool we can use to increase trust and save lives.
By Logan Hullinger, Filter
Maryland’s state legislator, encouraged by the mayor of the city at the center of America’s drug overdose epidemic, has renewed his bid to have overdose prevention clinics (OPCs), located throughout the state.
Shelly Hettleman, a state senator from Baltimore County (Democrat), reintroduced on January 8 a bill to allow six OPCs where there are high overdose death rates. OPCs can be proven to reduce overdose deaths, and they also have many public health benefits. However, the previous versions of this bill failed in the committee for years.
Hettleman, Filter’s CEO said: “I believe that what we do in relation to substance use disorders is not enough.”. The tool is an additional way to increase trust with users, and also to deliver services that save lives. “This is all about saving lives. That’s the bottom line.”
A hearing will take place in the Senate Finance Committee and the House will introduce a bill that is a companion to the Senate bill.
Maryland has seen an ongoing battle with OPCs. Over the past few years, activists and experts in public health have tried to influence the state legislature. However, OPC legislation has not been as well received as other harm-reduction efforts. The General Assembly passed legislation decriminalizing drug “paraphernalia”, but the former governor vetoed it. Larry Hogan (R), 2021. This legislative session, a new bill has been introduced.
Hettleman stated that the OPC bill doesn’t mandate creation of these sites. This could lead to confusion. The bill allows local governments to partner with the communities to bring them to life, but only after they have been approved by the health department.
Hettleman noted that the fact that Baltimore’s Mayor Brandon Scott, who was recently inaugurated for his second term in office, had named OPCs a “legislative priority” the day before the bill passed, may have been the most significant.
Scott has been a supporter of OPCs since years. Scott’s recent comments could be a sign of a desire to move them more quickly to Baltimore. Baltimore is the city with the highest overdose death rate in America.
Scott stated that OPCs are “associated with decreased overdoses and public drug usage, as well as reduced syringe waste, improved access to treatment for addiction, an increased level of engagement with health services, and a reduced burden on emergency medical care.” “As Maryland sees an influx of opioid restitution funds, we have an unprecedented opportunity to address substance use disorder and the overdose crisis—I’m calling on our state legislators to take bold, evidence-based action.”
Scott’s office did not respond to Filter’s requests for comment on why Baltimore has not followed the lead of New York City in establishing OPCs without state authorization. Researchers suggest that Baltimore can achieve this through an emergency declaration.
Only three states allow the use of these facilities, even though overdose deaths have been at an all-time high in the past few years. Rhode Island’s first OPC was opened in December. New York City’s two locations opened in the year 2021. Since then, they have prevented overdoses of almost 1,700 people and were visited by lawmakers.
Candy Kerr said, “OPCs will not only help save lives, they’ll also reduce the impact racism of the war on drugs,” a spokesperson for Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition. The non-profit is a member of Bridges Coalition – a coalition of over 30 Maryland groups that advocate for OPC.
Baltimore City is a city where predominantly Black neighborhoods have been hit by drug abuse and criminalization for a very long time. [drug use]Opening OPCs to said Communities [is] Kerr said that Filter’s “small piece” could help combat the harm..
According to a recent study, a majority in Baltimore City County and Baltimore City support having OPCs within their communities. A study showed that OPCs could help Baltimore save $6 million annually in health care costs.
However, state lawmakers have other concerns in mind.
Maryland faces a $2.7 billion projected budget deficit. Lawmakers are working to find ways to close the gap. The OPC bill could once again be sidelined by the legislators due to this anticipated $2.7 billion budget deficit.
Scott announced in 2020 that he would hold an informational meeting on OPC. Filter reported that Scott said at the time, “there’s no reason why we couldn’t.”
Despite the resolution’s passage, advocates have waited years for any legislation to be passed to establish OPCs within the city. The opening of the OPCs could be dependent on the outcome of a landmark case in which the city seeks $5.2 billion to fight the opioid crisis from distributors McKesson & Cencora. Expert witnesses from the city testified during the second trial phase, which took place in December. They said that the investment in OPCs and other harm-reduction initiatives are essential to the city’s 15 year abatement strategy.
Susan Sherman is a Johns Hopkins School of Public Health professor who has advocated OPCs since years. She sees the sites as an evidence-based, holistic approach to public healthcare, But she knows the roadblocks.
Sherman said: “It is hard to swallow the fact that this goes against what most people believe helps drug users, in general.” FilteIt is a challenge on a very deep level.
She added that while Baltimore may have the power to unilaterally implement these sites, state legislation would be preferable, as it provides stronger legal protection.
Filter’s comments to the Maryland House and Senate’s Democrat controlled leadership were not answered. Wes Moore, the governor of Maryland (D), declined to provide any comment about specific legislation.
Kerr stated, “I believe politicians worry that their constituencies won’t vote for them if something controversial is voted in.” Our job is easy then, shouldn’t it? OPCs save lives and provide people with supplies and resources they can use in the future. We have the scientific proof to back this up, so why would people not be interested?
She concluded, “Because drug abuse is still viewed as morally wrong in the United States and many people know people who have used drugs or are familiar with people who do.” “Does this mean that we will stop educating?” No. No.
This article was originally published by Filter, an online magazine covering drug use, drug policy and human rights through a harm reduction lens. Follow Filter on Facebook or Twitter, or sign up for its newsletter.
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Photos courtesy Flickr/Marco Verch.