Harm Reduction Experts Champion Autonomy Over Recovery
View at TwitterConfronting Harm Reduction
Tuesday afternoon, Seattle Councilmember Sara Nelson (@CMSaraNelson ) picked apart “harm reduction” experts during a Public Safety and Human Services Committee meeting. She asked for data and metrics showing the effectiveness of this model in addressing the out of control drug addiction crisis and record fentanyl overdose deaths in King County. The panel made up of activists and academics couldn’t give her a straight answer.
Councilmember Lisa Herbold (@Lisa_Herbold) came to their rescue as Nelson’s direct questions brought up a lot of inconvenient truths. But the most stunning response came from Amber Tejada, with the Hepatitis Education Project: “I know it can be a little controversial, but one of the key tenets of harm reduction that I see is that we want to be able to facilitate and champion autonomy of people who use drugs. And so you know there are folks who don’t want to stop using drugs. There are folks for whom abstinence is not something by which they measure their success in life.”
In other words, the “harm reduction” lobby does not believe in intervention. Free will choice to do drugs is more important than recovery. Remind me again how this is working out for #Seattle and #KingCounty?
@MayorofSeattle @GovInslee @kcexec @CMTMosqueda @SeattleCouncil @KCCouncil @KingCoRHA
This is the Alternative Response to Harm Reduction
-Prevention
-Intervention
-Treatment
-Recovery
NORTH AMERICA RECOVERS https://northamericarecovers.org
No Questions Asked Unlimited Supply
Earlier this year, @weheartseattle ordered all these “harm reduction” supplies. Technically teens and kids in #Seattle can access all this stuff no questions asked.
Unending Drug Crisis
Teens and young people are now being targeted with drug paraphernalia, all in the name of “harm reduction.” We also need more anti-drug education programs in our classrooms. #Seattle
The Cost and Messaging of Harm Reduction
Despite easy access to harm reduction supplies including fentanyl test strips, NARCAN, meth pipes, and clean needles…King County still saw a record number of drug overdose deaths last year. #Seattle
Is Harm Reduction Really Working?
Advocates say it’s one of the best ways to keep people safe and alive. Critics say it’s enabling and making the problem worse. Here’s how #Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell responded.
Who Do You Think They’re Targeting?
The People’s Harm Reduction Alliance pushes provocative messages and photos on it’s social media pages.
Marketing to Drug Addicts
No sign of any recovery or treatment here. #Seattle