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PSAM Opposes Legislation Preemptively Banning Overdose Prevention Centers
On February 2, the Pennsylvania Society of Addiction Medicine (PSAM) sent a letter to the leadership of the House Judiciary Committee in opposition to SB 347. This legislation would preemptively institute a statewide ban on overdose prevention centers (OPCs).
In the letter, PSAM noted that OPCs have proven effective at reducing overdose deaths and the spread of infections such as HIV. Additionally, OPCs have been shown to improve the chances of people entering treatment programs and ultimately stopping drug use. Consequently, some states and localities have authorized OPCs on a limited basis. PSAM also highlighted that leading national medical societies, including ASAM, have issued policy statements supporting the development of pilot OPCs. ASAM’s policy emphasized the importance of community buy-in before these facilities were placed. However, SB 347 would impose a statewide ban, removing a viable tool for reducing overdoses. As such, PSAM opposed SB 347 and suggested that a one-size-fits-all approach to the issue would be misguided.
