10 local stories making headlines this week
"State Reps. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, and Rod Pelton, R-Cheyenne Wells, introduced House Bill 1193, which would provide access to intensive substance use treatment to women up to one year after giving birth, and create pilot child care programs for women in treatment." Read full article #LeslieHerod #criminaljusticereform #addiction #cannabis #childcare
Lawmakers eye drug sentencing reforms to ease projected prison population growth
"This has some lawmakers wondering if too many people addicted to drugs are ending up behind bars." “Are they supposed to be there in the first place or are there other options?” said Rep. Leslie Herod, a Democrat from Denver and advocate for addiction treatment who will serve as vice chair of the House Judiciary Committee when the legislature gavels in on Jan. 4." "A state budget analyst told lawmakers last week that private prisons are about full, prisoners are sleeping in
INSIGHTS | Colorado usually leads the pack
"State Rep. Leslie Herod, a Democrat from Denver, led the passage of a city sales tax for mental health and drug addiction services in November. She will carry a bill next session to allow Denver and others in Colorado that could quality to set up a pilot program, to see if the injection sites save lives and get more people into treatment." "Politics have to go to where the people are," she said, "and most people in Colorado aren't on the extreme right or left." Read full art
Feds issue scathing response to Denver's supervised injection ordinance
"Kilmer then said supervised injection sites can reduce the risk of fatal overdose, disease transmission and issues associated with unhygienic drug use practices but said it’s unclear “about the size of the population-level effects of SCSs.” "To implement the supervised use site pilot program in Denver, a bill will have to pass through the Colorado State Legislature in the 2019 session." "State Representative Leslie Herod (D-Denver) said she will be one of the sponsors for a
Feds question Denver's drug plan
"Those injecting methamphetamine, cocaine or other drugs for which there is no counteragent are also welcome to use the facility. The Denver facility likewise would welcome users of any drug, not just opioids." "The agencies said their statement should not be "read as casting aspersions on the laudable motives of those seeking to improve our communities and free Coloradans from the scourge of drug addiction." "That is, however, how it was received by those working to set up t
Denver trying again for possible 1st US drug injection site
"DENVER -- Despite federal opposition, Denver is trying again to become what could be the first U.S. city to open a supervised drug injection site, a strategy that some liberal cities have tried repeatedly to launch to reduce overdose deaths fueled by a nationwide opioid epidemic. The Denver City Council voted 12-1 on Monday to approve a measure that would allow one site to open for at least two years under a pilot program. But there are still several hurdles to clear. The pr
Why Denver Voted to Fund Mental-Health Treatment
"A year after Colorado saw a record 1,175 suicides and an all-time high number of drug overdoses, according to the Colorado Health Institute, Denver voters decided to take matters into their own hands. On Election Day, the city passed a .25 percent sales tax (or 25 cents on a $100 purchase) under the Caring 4 Denver initiative, raising a new stream of money to treat mental health and addiction. It’s meant to take the response out of the hands of police and jails and focus on
Will Denver Vote to Fund More Mental Health and Addiction Services?
"House Representative Leslie Herod (D-District 8) is asking for the public’s help to address the Mile High City’s dearth of mental health and addiction services. “I see how much the community is hurting. I see our alarming rates of suicide…There are three to four overdoses on the streets of Denver every day,” she says. “We need more help, and we don’t have it right now.” "Herod is the driving force behind Caring 4 Denver, aka Initiated Ordinance 301 on the Denver municipal ba
On Your Ballot: $45M mental health initiative is needed in Denver in midst of crisis, advocates say
“DENVER — Denver voters will have a lot to consider when they fill out their ballots over the next few weeks, including spending millions of dollars to help those who need mental health care through proposed Ordinance 301 or Caring 4 Denver. Read full article #Caring4Denver #Caring4Denver #Mentalhealth #Addiction #SubstanceAbuse
Denver voters asked to raise taxes to increase mental health, substance abuse funding
"DENVER – In addition to more than a dozen statewide issues, this November voters across Colorado will decide issues specifically for their own cities and counties." "In Denver, one of those issues is being called Caring 4 Denver, which would raise $45 million every year to fund mental health and addiction services for children and adults by adding a 25-cent tax on every $100 in purchases." "On this weekend’s Politics Unplugged, State Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, talks to Ann
