[B]URLINGTON — The City Council has voted 9-3 in favor of a measure to support opiate treatment and prevention and to explore the possible establishment of a safe-injection site.
Adopted Monday night after two hours of debate and consideration of nine amendments, the resolution provides for the addition of two city councilors to CommStat, an opioid study committee set up by Mayor Miro Weinberger. It also endorses the dispensing of buprenorphine, a drug used to treat opioid addiction, and other prevention measures.
However, the non-binding measure will not result in any concrete action on setting up a safe injection site in the city. Councilor Jane Knodell, P-Central District, proposed an amendment ensuring the council would not make such a move without holding a separate vote.
The language change was approved unanimously.
Safe injection sites are intended to be places where people can use drugs under medical supervision and receive guidance on addiction treatment and other social services.
Councilor Karen Paul, D-Ward 6, brought several experts to speak in favor of the resolution, including safe injection sites, before discussion began.
Dr. Patty Fisher, of the University of Vermont Medical Center, said the cruel reality with opioids is that one use can be fatal.
“Prevention and education, along with reduced and safer opioid prescriptions, can help reduce the impacts of the epidemic,” she said.
Howard Center Executive Director Bob Bick told the council that the obituaries of young people in the newspaper each day who have died unexpectedly is a “telltale sign” of the impact addiction is having.
“It’s about adding tools to the toolbox, doing everything possible to keep people alive long enough to get them into treatment,” he said of safe injection sites.
The Howard Center currently operates a clean needle exchange in the city, where individuals who access the service are offered the chance to enter an addiction recovery program.
Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George, an outspoken advocate of safe injection sites, told the council that 75 Vermonters have died of fatal overdoses in the first six months of 2018.
There was an increase in deaths from the prescription drug fentanyl over the past year, from 51 to 68. The number of fatal overdoses involving heroin declined from 51 in 2016 to 41 in 2017.
George formed a commission in 2017 to explore the use of such sites. A report issued late last year from that group, which included medical professionals, police and social service officials, endorsed the use of spaces for people to inject heroin or consume other opiates, with a goal of reducing overdose deaths.
“When I first heard about them I was very skeptical of the idea, and a year later I am frankly appalled that our country is not installing these wherever we can,” George said.
George has testified before the Legislature on the issue, and recently backed a plan to address addiction by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Brenda Siegel.
Rep. Selene Colburn, P/D-Burlington, said that despite common belief, safe injection sites can be positive for the neighborhoods that host them, by reducing the number of discarded needles and public drug consumption.
“There is lots of political research that tells us that overdose prevention sites save lives, that they create pathways to treatment, that they prevent the spread of infectious diseases,” said Colburn, a former city councilor.
Burlington Fire Chief Stephen Locke, and opioid data analyst Jackie Corbally, also spoke in favor of exploring the establishment of injection sites.
The Vermont Legislature attempted to create a legal framework for safe injection sites this past session, but that bill stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee after lawmakers decided they wanted the Governor’s Opioid Coordination Council to study the issue further. Another measure passed by the Legislature this session expanded medication-assisted addiction treatment for prisoners.
Much of the debate around the resolution Monday night drew from concerns around the legality of overdose prevention sites, commonly known as safe injection sites.
No safe injection sites currently exist in the United States, although several exist in Canada and other countries. Legal complications have prevented sites from opening in several cities, including San Francisco.
Officials in Vancouver, Canada say no individuals have died from an overdose at the city’s safe injection site.
Councilor Dave Hartnett, I-North District, proposed amending the resolution to exclude all language on overdose prevention sites. He said because of of the likely illegality of such sites, it would be a waste of the city’s limited resources, which would be better spent fully dedicated to prevention and education efforts.
The amendment failed with only Knodell and council President Kurt Wright, R-Ward 4, voting in favor with Hartnett.
U.S. Attorney Christina Nolan issued a strong-worded statement in December, suggesting her office would prosecute anyone operating a safe injection facility.
“It is a crime, not only to use illicit narcotics, but to manage and maintain sites on which such drugs are used and distributed. Thus, exposure to criminal charges would arise for users and SIF (safe injection facility) workers and overseers. The properties that host SIFs would also be subject to federal forfeiture,” the statement read.
Councilors also adopted an amendment, introduced by Knodell, saying “the vigorous prosecution of illegal drug trafficking by the City of Burlington will not be compromised” by the presence of any safe injection sites.
Knodell, Wright and Hartnett were also on the losing side of the final 9-3 vote in favor of the full resolution.
Knodell criticized the lack of community and constituent input on the resolution, and the lack of hearing from expert viewpoints opposing the measure.
“I have not heard from any constituents about this,” she said. “I have heard from nobody, so it is hard to say yes if we’re going to be talking about having a physical site.”
Hartnett and Wright opposed the measure, in part, due to the fact that safe injection sites are illegal under federal law.
“That’s all great for national headlines and all that, but if you really, truly want to make a difference, than you’re focused on prevention,” Hartnett said of the sites.
Other councilors said the resolution is a necessary step in including all possible solutions to the crisis as part of the conversation.
“We really have to do it all,” said Brian Pine, P-Ward 3. “We have to try everything possible”
