To delay overdose deaths, California needs more flexibility: daily news

In California, overdose has been falling on a year. It is a ray of hope to a large extent attributable to a complex network of Public health scope, individual behavior Change and the will to find local solutions to local problems. But the overdose crisis is not over. That is because, like New research Demonstrates: the drug supply is and will remain in flow.

And with each new substance that is added to the supply, not to mention new combinations of medicines, new risks come. Saving lives will continue to require local innovation and real -time adaptability. However, with newly introduced Project of Assembly 396 California runs the risk of lying on his exaggerated trends just when he needs flexibility in the soil.

The current overdose crisis is mainly driven by the increase and spread of powerful synthetic opioids such as Fentanyl. The extreme power of the medication is particularly dangerous in the illicit market because the quality fluctuates and people do not know what is in purchases. In addition, very prohibitionist policies that encouraged fentanil Continue pushing manufacturers to find new substances, often stronger and more dangerous.

Already, opioids even more powerful than fentanyl are appearing throughout the country. TO Drug Verification Program that proves samples of damage reduction organizations is follow-up increase in carps and Nitazenosas well as a growing variety of sedatives that do not respond to the drug reversal of overdose naloxone. In JanuaryThe laboratory identified 126 different substances in the offer, 13 of which were new to them.

In general, California is proactive to help people stay safe and live in this unstable and opaque market by allowing access to a variety of tools, from Naloxone to drug verification equipment. In recent years, the State has reduced barriers to addiction treatment and Damage reduction while maintaining the legislation wide enough for programs to adapt to local needs.

For example, last year the State authorized Drug review Equipment that proves any possible pollutant, instead of just fentanil. And, although these expansions are not the only factor responsible for the recent overdose of falls, policies Allowing interventions is certainly part of why deaths have fallen. Unfortunately, California is now ready to reverse at least some of his own progress.

It can be obvious at this time, but it is worth saying again: the government should not restrict people’s access to tools that can help keep them safe and alive. California should know this given his prohibition In flavor nicotine products such as vapes, which promoted the illicit market and took some people to return to combustible cigarettes.

In the same way, while AB 396The sponsor certainly has the well -being of the community in the heart, the bill would devastate organizations in the center of overdose struggle: Sininge Services Programs (SSP). AB 396 would require SSP to label individual syringes before distributing them, a practice called “marked” and track them meticulously. The bill is supposed to reduce the garbage of the syringe by responsible for the distribution organizations responsible for fines of $ 1,000 for “rape”.

None of us want to find used syringes in public spaces. But this bill requires that all programs mark the syringes, regardless of whether their community has a syringe garbage problem, and it is unlikely to improve the elimination of the syringe. Research shows that SSP Not increase syringe garbage and often reduce he Because the programs provide safe removal options locally, such as containers to take home and community collection sites, and generally organize local cleaning. So, if a community is seeing an increase in syringe garbage, the first step to reduce it is to ask why, not institute a general mandate.