We are here at the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee public hearing to support LD 994, which would eliminate criminal penalties for possessing 10+ syringes, and for giving or exchanging any syringes.
Show this thread
-
Rep. Sam Zager, who is a doctor, describes the public health rationale for access to clean syringes. The bottom line: access to clean syringes save lives.
Show this thread
Courtney Allen, MERAP: The bottom line is that this bill sends a clear message that people who use drugs and people with substance use disorder are not criminals.
-
-
Courtney remembers recovery advocate, Jesse Harvey, and his approach: harm reduction is an important path to wellness.
Show this thread -
Matthew Fortin on behalf of Maine Medical Association - removing a roadblock to recovery makes sense. MMA advocates for a human centered approach that does not treat people who use drugs as criminals.
Show this thread -
Anna Brewer, Preble Street: we lose too many clients every year to preventable overdoses. Anna advocates for the importance of fentanyl testing strips as a matter of life and death.
Show this thread -
Anna: When clients reuse needles, their health, our public health and our entire public health system suffers. When we stop criminalizing possession of more than 10 syringes, we avoid needless incarceration.
Show this thread -
Whitney Parrish, HEAL: Harm reduction strategies work. We must meet people where they are, and we need to build relationships without putting people we love in harm's way.
Show this thread -
Chelsea Putnam, Maine Access Points: the community of people who use drugs deserve access to keep themselves well. Notes that hepatitis rates are rising in rural towns because they don't have access to clean supplies.
Show this thread -
Anna McConnell, Maine Access Points: our participants are criminalized for accessing this public health resource. Anna says the federal CDC recommends providing people with as many supplies as they need.
Show this thread -
Anna describes the choice participants face: Do I risk criminalization and jail time or keep reusing that syringe? Anna asks lawmakers to help save lives and stand on the side of justice and ensure the dignity and respect of all of our neighbors in Maine.
Show this thread -
Anna notes participants of syringe service providers increase their likelihood of seeking treatment by 5x.
Show this thread -
Craig Cardamone, counselor, notes people he's worked with who have gone to jail because of their drug use have had worse outcomes.
Show this thread -
Notes that people who participate in syringe service programs have better health outcomes and are more likely to seek recovery.
Show this thread -
Marshall Mercer, MERAP: substance use disorder is a public health issue, not a criminal issue. Safe supplies does not encourage drug use, but keep people alive until they are ready to seek recovery.
Show this thread -
Cathleen London, physician in Downeast: this approach that emphasizes punishment is just a failure. Until we move to harm reduction, we are going to see more deaths. The opposite of addiction is connection.
Show this thread -
Meagan Sway, ACLU: the laws criminalizing safe supplies were created 25 years ago. 25 years later we know better: criminalizing safe supplies has not made our communities safer. What does work? Harm reduction.
Show this thread -
Yet our laws make harm reduction practices, life saving public health measures, crimes. Criminalizing drug use is cruel. It disconnects people from their health care, families and place in the community—the very things they need to lead healthy lives.
Show this thread -
That's the end of the hearing. Rep. Warren notes: unanimous public support for LD 994.
Show this thread -
Say it with us folks: unanimous
public support Show this thread
End of conversation
New conversation -
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.