Statewide Coalition of Syringe Exchange Programs Take Action on International Overdose Awareness Day to Demand an End to the Overdose Crisis 🤬Last year, California had nearly 10,000 overdose deaths, with death rates the highest among Black and Native Americans and with more and more young people dying. As the overdose crisis rages on in our state, now is not the time to cut the only state investment into harm reduction program staffing. Cutting harm reduction funding sends the message that the lives of people who use drugs are disposable. 🧐 The legislature cut funding used to staff low-barrier harm reduction programs. The decision to cut CHRI will affect over 75,000 Californians who receive services at 1,000 unique sites in 42 counties. 🗣California’s $308 billion 2022-23 state budget does not include the word overdose one time despite it continuing to be the leading cause of accidental death in California. 📢Governor Newsom vetoed SB 57, a bill that would have allowed three CA cities to pilot Overdose Prevention Programs (LA, Oakland, SF). Over 50 harm reduction programs that are part of the California Syringe Exchange Programs (CASEP) Coalition participated in collective action on August 31st on International Overdose Awareness Day to demand that the state legislature and administration take action to end the overdose crisis. Syringe exchange programs from across the state hosted rallies and dropped banners in high-traffic areas using the taglines: Every Overdose Is A Policy Failure and Overdose Death Is Preventable: Fund Harm Reduction.
 Featuring @somasnakeoil and @resurrektion_of_me from @the_sidewalk_project and @cd4losangeles Just a few of organizations behind this event: @bienestarla @beingalive_la @aadap @_hopics @the_sidewalk_project @feedthestreets_la @wafhere @lacanetwork_official @streetwatchla @communityhealthprojectla @drugpolicyalliance @harmreductioncoalition 
#harmreductionsaveslives #harmreduction #losangeles #homeless #invisiblepeople