LC 1.15 Safe Injection Act

[lfromnj]

An Act
Safe Injection Act

A Bill to approve entities to operate overdose prevention programs that satisfy specified requirements

Section I: Establishment
1.) Upon passage of the bill, it will be legal for municipalities to establish injection sites for drug addicts, provided they uphold safety regulations.
2.) Municipalities will provide advanced notice to law enforcement regarding the establishment of all new injection sites.

Section II: Purpose
1.) Injection sites are designed to provide a safe and hygienic space for people to use preobtained drugs.
     - All injection sites must be monitored by licensed healthcare professionals
2.) All injection sites will have staff to administer first aid and provide treatment for potential overdoses.

Section III: Safety Regulations
1.) All injections sites must provide:
     - Sterile and unused hyperdermic needles/syringes
     - Security to protect staff and users
     - Education, provided by staff, in regards to drug abuse and STDs
     - Access and referrals to substance abuse clinics
2.) All injection sites are required to provide a monthly report detailing the number of patients, overdoses, and referred persons. This report shall be delivered to both the municipality and the Lincoln region as a whole.

Section IV
1.) This bill takes effect upon signing by the Governor.

Sponsor: Funk
Debate now

[lfromnj]

I oppose the idea of the government spending money to encourage places to inject dangerous drugs. I would be open to the idea of adding heroin and other drugs you want to allow for safe injection sites in the Soft Legalization Act

https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=290101.0

In this scenario individuals may seek help from any private organization.

[Sirius_]

I oppose the idea of the government spending money to encourage places to inject dangerous drugs. I would be open to the idea of adding heroin and other drugs you want to allow for safe injection sites in the Soft Legalization Act

https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=290101.0

In this scenario individuals may seek help from any private organization.

If I may speak regarding this, since you did mention one of my own bills,
there is a reason why I did not include drugs such as heroin, meth, and most cocaine in that bill. It serves a different purpose, to legalize drugs that aren't harmful, and I see no good reason to add drugs that are to that list. As for your concerns, it is much more dangerous without these sites than they are with them. People one way or another get addicted to drugs, and we'll only help it by helping them. Just telling them to stop is not a safe way of doing things, there has to be a transition for success, which is where this comes in.

[Pyro]

I mostly support this proposal and the practice of harm reduction.
Section III of this bill addresses my initial concerns.

I would strongly favor we organize a panel or commission comprised of health experts to observe this program and review its monthly reports.

[Mr. Reactionary]

Would vendors be permitted to sell wares inside the site?

[Comrade Funk]

In a press release, the AMA stated that “studies from other countries have shown that supervised injection facilities reduce the number of overdose deaths, reduce transmission rates of infectious disease, and increase the number of individuals initiating treatment for substance abuse disorders.”

https://www.ama-assn.org/press-center/press-releases/ama-wants-new-approaches-combat-synthetic-and-injectable-drugs

[Pyro]

Motion for a final vote.

[Comrade Funk]

No objection

[Pyro]

In the case of the Lincoln Council's approval and the subsequent legalization of safe injection facilities, I would expect our government carefully observe the findings of the first monthly report and determine if additional safety precautions are necessary through future legislation.


Now, the final voting period has opened.

Aye.

[Comrade Funk]

Aye

[lfromnj]

Nay.

[DKrol]

Aye

[Pyro]

The bill passes 3-2 on the following division:

Aye: PyroTheFox, Comrade Funk, DKrol
Nay: thr33, Lfromnj

[Peanut]

An Act
Safe Injection Act

A Bill to approve entities to operate overdose prevention programs that satisfy specified requirements

Section I: Establishment
1.) Upon passage of the bill, it will be legal for municipalities to establish injection sites for drug addicts, provided they uphold safety regulations.
2.) Municipalities will provide advanced notice to law enforcement regarding the establishment of all new injection sites.

Section II: Purpose
1.) Injection sites are designed to provide a safe and hygienic space for people to use preobtained drugs.
     - All injection sites must be monitored by licensed healthcare professionals
2.) All injection sites will have staff to administer first aid and provide treatment for potential overdoses.

Section III: Safety Regulations
1.) All injections sites must provide:
     - Sterile and unused hyperdermic needles/syringes
     - Security to protect staff and users
     - Education, provided by staff, in regards to drug abuse and STDs
     - Access and referrals to substance abuse clinics
2.) All injection sites are required to provide a monthly report detailing the number of patients, overdoses, and referred persons. This report shall be delivered to both the municipality and the Lincoln region as a whole.

Section IV
1.) This bill takes effect upon signing by the Governor.