Should cities open drug “safe havens” where people who are addicted to illegal drugs can use them under the supervision of medical professionals?
In 2018, officials in the U.S. city of Philadelphia city proposed opening a “safe haven” in an effort to combat the city's heroin epidemic. In 2016 64,070 people died in the U.S. from drug overdoses - a 21% increase from 2015. 3/4 of drug overdose deaths in the U.S. are caused by the opioid class of drugs which includes prescription painkillers, heroin and fentanyl. To combat the epidemic cities including Vancouver, BC and Sydney, AUS opened safe havens where addicts can inject drugs under the supervision of medical professionals. The safe havens reduce the overdose death…
Read more@8HN4P433yrs3Y
yes, but ween them off drugs
@8F9QQD63yrs3Y
No- but drug testing should be free at public health clinics
@9DT2Q6Y7mos7MO
No, they should just quit
@8GK95VT3yrs3Y
No but drug addiction should be treated as a health and criminal issue.
@9J78RN2 2mos2MO
Flags up elderly and the mussel man's health problems over COVID hospital healthcare's assistant with possible sores and Rubby backs
@9G7RS2W5mos5MO
Perhaps in a rehab setting where the doses will be reduced over time to safely wean someone off the drug.
@9G6X65M 6mos6MO
Use these spaces to ensure safe drug use, while also encouraging a reduction in drug use and educating users on the dangers of these illegal substances. Treating this as a health issue rather than a criminal issue.
Perhaps for marijuana and mushrooms, depending on the scale of which they use it for etc it should be fine for medicinal, relaxation, anxiety, to chill out. Other heaved drugs such has mdma, cocaine, and even heavier drugs such as meth and heroine should be illegal
@9G6RQKJ6mos6MO
I think that a safe haven for people who do drugs isn’t going to help them or their families if they have an addiction, rather than a safe haven to openly do drugs create a safe haven for them to slowly get off drugs by increasing time between each use, this will make coming of a drug easier as the harsh and immediate effect of withdrawal will not be as difficult and will give the body time to adjust while knowing they will get another high.
Who pays for the drs to be there and how many more people would stay there all day and what happens if they do it outside of this area what happens
@9G6C8K46mos6MO
Yes, but there needs to be a contract agreement in place. It should only be people willing to make change
@9G5XXQW6mos6MO
Several questions: Is this literally just people shooting up, or do you have medical professionals offering a friendly atmosphere to offer help? The latter sounds better.
Is the point to help lower drug use and these people being a menace to society?
@9G5WW9W6mos6MO
But there should also be an open policy to help those wanting to recover, without it being forced upon them
@9G5JD4L6mos6MO
As a way of reducing dosage until they are non-dependent? They do this for anti-depressants etc. if this can’t be done then no.
@9G5F9YN6mos6MO
Dealers should be hung in public as they ruin lives and the behaviour of these people hooking people on to drugs and the social demise it causes has to stop.
@9G4P4VJ6mos6MO
I think its a good idea for those who are struggling with drug addiction but I also think it promotes drug use to people who aren't struggling or want to try such as youth.
@9G4MFMP6mos6MO
Yes, hire medical and psychological professionals to ween addicts off drugs, and don't provide the service for people who are not addicted
@9G4KJHW6mos6MO
While I disagree with the use of drugs, I believe that a safe haven should be ONLY for addicts and that would need to be proven so no new addicts can be created. With medical professionals and guards and stuff supervising I think yes, it would be a better option for addicts to go to rather than the streets.
@9G49T5B6mos6MO
No but there should be more funding towards rehabilitation centres and medical help in relation to drug usage
@9G47Z8X6mos6MO
No, but consider sanctuary/ aid for people at the big musical festivals to keep children who experiment safe. Educate society. Decriminalise use.
I believe in safe havens but I also believe in trying to rehabilitate people. Safe havens should offer both
@9G3CBPQ6mos6MO
Although I believe addicts should have a safe and clean place to use/be high, I believe we need better resources for rehabilitation and for services relating to mental health in order for people to not become addicts.
@9G3C86M6mos6MO
I support decriminalisation of drugs but not drug safe havens. Drug trafficking and dealing over certain amounts should stay criminal
@9G28X276mos6MO
Hmmm I think there should be a facility where drug addicts can go to safely wean off them under professional supervision
@9G28S7D6mos6MO
Drug use is often connected to mental health issues due to abuse so it should be considered a mental health issue and more funding provided to help with rehabilitation. Maybe in some circumstances have a service like this connected to a mental health / rehab service. But not a stand alone centre.
@9FLCH6X6mos6MO
Multiple drugs helped save my life 1978. In life, I don't need any. Marijuana may be useful combating pain of metal on metal hip.
No, this would encourage drug users even more and decrease the health of people in NZ.
Yes, but they should be slowly taken off drugs so that they eventually have no addiction
I think they should definitely be availableto them but it needs to NOT be a sesh pad it NEEDS to provide help to the people in need. They need help and no one does anything but yet they just end up using on the street creating unsafe environments for everyone else.
Why would you put doctors in a room with drug addicts, or ban drugs over all? People should not have access to drugs at all. Also why would you use doctors in drug safe havens even when people with proper problems needs an available doctor.
Mental health should be sorted first
@9FFPKRROpportunities6mos6MO
I think drugs should be medical only, yet still be legalised so then people can go and receive help from medical professionals if needed.
@9FBBGHN7mos7MO
I think it would be more beneficial to open places where drug users could get their drugs tested in a anonymous environment and be offered support and counselling
@9FBB8VSOpportunities 7mos7MO
No, but some method towards legalizing less socially impactful drugs should be taken
@9FB6HBTOpportunities7mos7MO
Yes but they should aim to be supplied with alternative substances that are less harmful than the drug they are trying to wean themselves off
No, but treat as a health issue and increase funding for rehabilitation
@9F9FG9G7mos7MO
Yes, but this service shouldn't be abused
Yes. As long as there is consistent support to get them clean
There definitely needs to be a look into ones health on how they got to that situation and look into the cause with ability to help
@9F974YD7mos7MO
I think this would be a good way to reduce drug addiction but it would also make people continue the use of drugs
@9F96D97New Zealand First7mos7MO
If it leads to sobriety, then yes
@9F93LNJ7mos7MO
Yes, but legalise some and decriminalise other drugs. Make some drugs like meth illegal, opioids like fentanyl illegal. Modernise drug laws they are out of date. Create a progressive approach to classifying new drugs so they can be quickly vetted and made legal or illegal.
Yes, but in addition with some sort of rehabilitation process
@9F7N3VXNew Zealand Loyal7mos7MO
No need for safe havens, since taking drugs should be legalised. Treated as illness for hard drugs, but normal for soft drugs such as grass.
@9F7MFFW 7mos7MO
Yes, but increase detox spaces, and funding for rehabilitation. As well as walk in counselling, therapy service which wrap around the overdose prevention sites.
No, because this just encourages the use of drugs and will only cause people to start using stronger drugs. Also it brings a bad name to our city, we'll have these druggie safe havens which is a disgusting idea to think about!
Yes, and re-evaluate drug laws. They’re outdated and don’t reflect what the research says.
Yes as need to be removed from society where they can cause harm
@9F24W8STe Pāti Māori7mos7MO
Yes, and those with children should be offered supervised housing with support to meet their children's needs, as well as drug rehabilitation support for themselves
Yes but as a safe space to wean off drugs not to continue using.
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