"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

"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

"The rest of One Colorado’s endorsements included state Senate candidates Donovan, Danielson, Story and Pettersen, as well as Leroy Garcia, Pete Lee, Robert Rodriguez and Julie Gonzales." "Other House candidates endorsed by One Colorado were Bridges, Roberts, Michaelson-Jenet, Gray, McLachlan, Snyder, Caraveo, Mullica, Bird, Sullivan, Galindo, Susan Lontine, Alec Garnett, Chris Hansen, James Coleman, Leslie Herod, Edie Hooten, Jonathan Singer, KC Becker, Chris Kennedy, Tracy

"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

"DENVER -- Election night was more than just about candidates and political parties. It was also about issues." "In Denver, voters approved a .25 percent tax increase to generate $45 million for mental health funding annually." "So what happens next?" "This will be the largest mental health funding stream that Denver has ever seen," State Rep. Leslie Herod (D-Denver) said. Herod helped run the campaign to get it passed." "Herod says first up will be the creation of a non prof

"Rob Valuck, a drug addiction expert, said there are similar programs in more than 60 cities around the world with evidence that programs like this help reduce spreading diseases. He also said it could improve access to treatment." “It's not that we are sanctioning something that isn’t there,” Valuck said. “It’s already there.” “We simply don't have enough treatment facilities and programs that it's easy to walk in and get treatment,” he added. “In the interim, what do we do?

"The Denver City Council is considering a pilot program to allow a legal drug injection site in the city." "Supporters of the plan say 1,000 people died of overdoses in Colorado last year. It's estimated emergency services respond to almost three overdose cases each day." "A supervised site, supporters say, would save lives and money when it comes to hospital stays and treatment." "We know people are publicly injecting outside in parks, in alleys," supporter Lisa Raville said

"So the question is where people go after using safely to get long-term help. The answer, for some, will be nowhere. They may repeat the cycle of using to avoid withdrawal, but better in the presence of people who can save their lives than in a bathroom somewhere, Raville said." "A measure known as “Caring for Denver” passed Tuesday to fund mental health. That gives Brooks confidence despite the lack of services." “While that’s an issue, there’s a lot of hope that I’m being g

A law being proposed by Councilman Albus Brooks would legalize supervised injection centers, where people addicted to opioids could use the drugs en route to recovery — or at least in a safer environment that deters fatal overdoses and the spread of chronic diseases like hepatitis C and HIV. It’s a policy created in response to an epidemic of heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine and other drugs that killed 201 people in Denver in 2017 and 64,000 across the country in 2016. A big

“I definitely think there’s an option for this to pass in the state legislature,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, a backer of the earlier measure. “I think that there’s an appetite there from both Democrats and Republicans, and I look forward to bringing the measure forward.” "There are some 11,500 people who are known to inject narcotics in Denver and surrounding counties, according to Raville. The city reported 201 overdose deaths in 2017, compared to 174 in 2016 and 129 in 2015."