Mayor says city going forward with supervised drug site

WCVB Channel 5 Boston

14 Aug 201901:51

Summary

TLDRSomerville Mayor Joe Curtatone is advocating for a safe injection site for drug addicts in Massachusetts, aiming to reduce the over 2000 annual deaths. Despite opposition, including from Governor Charlie Baker who prefers legal and evidence-based treatment, Curtatone is undeterred, citing Canadian data showing such sites save lives. A change of heart from former skeptic Cynthia Goldberg, influenced by frontline experience, adds to the support. The city is preparing for a potential legal fight, with a target to open the site in 2020.

Takeaways

🏛️ Mayor Joe Curtatone of Somerville, Massachusetts, is advocating for a safe injection site for drug users to prevent overdose deaths.
📊 In Massachusetts, there are over 2000 deaths per year related to drug use, prompting the need for such a facility.
🧐 The proposed safe site aims to provide a monitored environment where addicts can use drugs safely and access treatment options.
🌎 Data from Canada supports the efficacy of supervised safe injection sites in saving lives.
❌ There is opposition to the idea, with critics arguing that these sites enable illegal drug use.
👨‍✈️ Governor Charlie Baker is against the safe sites, emphasizing legal, safe, and evidence-based treatment, recovery, and education methods.
📉 Massachusetts has seen a decrease in opioid-related overdose deaths in 2017 and 2018, partly due to existing programs.
💡 Cynthia Goldberg, initially against safe sites, has changed her stance after witnessing the epidemic firsthand and now supports the idea with certain conditions.
🏥 A panel of experts is being assembled by Mayor Curtatone to study the implementation of a safe site in Somerville.
⏳ The target date for opening the safe site in Somerville is set for some time in 2020.

Q & A

What is Mayor Joe Curtatone's stance on opening a safe site for addicts in Somerville?
-Mayor Joe Curtatone supports opening a safe site for addicts in Somerville, viewing it as a bold and common sense solution to keep people alive and provide them with treatment options.
How many deaths per year are attributed to opioid-related overdoses in Massachusetts alone?
-In Massachusetts alone, there are more than 2000 deaths per year due to opioid-related overdoses.
What does the data from Canada suggest about the impact of supervised safe injection sites?
-The data from Canada indicates that clinically-supervised safe injection sites are saving lives.
What is the argument from opponents of safe injection sites?
-Opponents argue that safe injection sites enable illegal drug use.
What is Governor Charlie Baker's position on safe injection sites?
-Governor Charlie Baker is against safe injection sites, stating that he remains focused on legal, safe, and evidence-based approaches to treatment, recovery, and education.
How has Cynthia Goldberg's perspective on safe sites changed over time?
-Cynthia Goldberg, who used to be against safe sites, has changed her thinking after six years on the front lines of the epidemic.
What conditions does Cynthia Goldberg believe should be in place for safe sites to be effective?
-Cynthia Goldberg believes that safe sites should be under the care of a clinician and offer rehab options.
What is the current legal situation regarding safe injection sites in Philadelphia?
-Supporters in Philadelphia are currently engaged in a legal battle with the federal government to open a safe injection site.
What is Mayor Curtatone's concern regarding potential legal challenges from the U.S. Attorney?
-Mayor Curtatone is more concerned about the phone calls he receives about overdose deaths than he is about potential legal challenges from the U.S. Attorney.
What is the target date for opening a safe site in Somerville as per Mayor Curtatone's plan?
-The target date for opening a safe site in Somerville is sometime in 2020.
What steps has Mayor Curtatone taken to prepare for the opening of a safe site?
-Mayor Curtatone has assembled a panel of experts to study how and where to open a safe site in Somerville.

Outlines

00:00

🏥 Somerville Mayor's Plan for Safe Injection Site

Mayor Joe Curtatone of Somerville is prepared to face a legal battle to establish a safe site for addicts in the city. The site aims to prevent deaths by allowing people to use drugs under clinical supervision while providing them with treatment options. Despite skepticism and opposition, including from Governor Charlie Baker, who prefers legal and evidence-based treatment approaches, Curtatone is convinced by data from Canada that such sites save lives. Cynthia Goldberg, once against safe sites, has changed her stance after witnessing the epidemic firsthand. Supporters in Philadelphia are fighting a legal battle with the federal government to open a similar site, and Curtatone is closely monitoring the situation. A panel of experts has been assembled to study the implementation of the site, with a target opening date set for 2020.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Legal Battle

A legal battle refers to a dispute or conflict that is resolved through legal proceedings, often involving lawsuits or court cases. In the context of the video, Mayor Curtatone is prepared for a legal battle over the establishment of a safe site for addicts in Somerville, Massachusetts. The term is used to highlight the potential opposition and challenges that the mayor anticipates in implementing this solution to address the opioid crisis.

💡Safe Site

A safe site, as mentioned in the script, is a facility designed to provide a controlled environment for drug users to consume substances under medical supervision. The concept is aimed at reducing the risk of overdose and death while offering treatment options. The video discusses the mayor's proposal to open such a site in Somerville as a response to the high number of opioid-related deaths.

💡Addicts

Addicts are individuals who suffer from addiction, a chronic condition characterized by compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli, despite adverse consequences. The video focuses on the plight of addicts, particularly those struggling with opioid addiction, and how the proposed safe site could serve as a life-saving measure for this vulnerable population.

💡Overdose

An overdose refers to a potentially life-threatening situation where a person has consumed a harmful or lethal amount of a substance, such as drugs. The video script emphasizes the urgency of addressing the opioid crisis by highlighting the number of overdose deaths in Massachusetts, which the mayor cites as a reason for considering the establishment of a safe site.

💡Treatment Options

Treatment options refer to the various methods and programs available to help individuals recover from addiction. In the video, the safe site is presented not only as a place to prevent overdose deaths but also as a hub that can connect addicts with treatment options, such as rehabilitation services, to aid in their recovery.

💡Clinically-Supervised

Clinically-supervised implies that medical professionals are overseeing and managing the process, ensuring safety and appropriate care. The video references data from Canada, where clinically-supervised safe injection sites are credited with saving lives, suggesting that a similar approach could be effective in Massachusetts.

💡Opponents

Opponents in this context are individuals or groups that are against the establishment of safe sites for drug users. The video mentions that opponents argue these sites enable illegal drug use, reflecting a debate on the ethics and effectiveness of such interventions in addressing the opioid crisis.

💡Governor Charlie Baker

Governor Charlie Baker is mentioned in the video as a key figure who is against the idea of safe sites. His stance represents the opposition that the mayor and supporters of the safe site initiative may face. Baker's focus on legal, safe, and evidence-based approaches to treatment and recovery highlights the differing views on how to combat the opioid crisis.

💡Evidence-Based Approaches

Evidence-based approaches refer to strategies and interventions that are supported by scientific evidence, demonstrating their effectiveness in achieving desired outcomes. The video contrasts the mayor's proposal for a safe site with Governor Baker's preference for evidence-based methods that have reportedly led to a decrease in opioid-related overdose deaths in Massachusetts.

💡Expert Panel

An expert panel is a group of professionals with specialized knowledge in a particular field, convened to study and provide recommendations on a specific issue. In the video, Mayor Curtatone has assembled an expert panel to study the feasibility and implementation of a safe site in Somerville, indicating a methodical and informed approach to addressing the opioid crisis.

💡Philadelphia

Philadelphia is mentioned in the script as a city where supporters are engaged in a legal battle with the federal government to open a safe site. This example serves to illustrate the broader context of the debate over safe sites and the legal challenges that advocates face in their efforts to establish such facilities.

Highlights

Mayor Joe Curtatone is prepared to face a legal battle for a bold solution to combat drug addiction.

In Massachusetts, over 2000 deaths per year are attributed to drug addiction.

Mayor Curtatone proposes a safe site for addicts in Somerville to keep people alive while offering treatment options.

The mayor emphasizes the importance of keeping an open mind and considering data on safe injection sites.

Data from Canada suggests that clinically-supervised safe injection sites save lives.

Opponents argue that safe injection sites enable illegal drug use.

Governor Charlie Baker is against safe injection sites, focusing on legal and evidence-based treatment approaches.

Massachusetts has seen a decrease in opioid-related overdose deaths in 2017 and 2018 due to ongoing efforts.

Cynthia Goldberg, a former opponent, has changed her stance on safe sites after six years on the frontlines of the epidemic.

Goldberg supports safe sites if they are under clinical supervision and offer rehabilitation options.

Supporters in Philadelphia are engaged in a legal battle with the federal government to open a safe injection site.

Mayor Curtatone is more concerned about overdose deaths than potential legal challenges from the U.S. Attorney.

A panel of experts has been assembled to study the implementation and location of a safe injection site in Somerville.

The target date for opening a safe site in Somerville is sometime in 2020.