Pubdate: Mon, 09 May 2016
Source: Boston Globe (MA)
Copyright: 2016 Globe Newspaper Company
Contact: http://services.bostonglobe.com/news/opeds/letter.aspx?id=6340
Website: http://bostonglobe.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/52
Author: Jonathan D. Scott
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v16/n283/a07.html

SAFE SPACE FOR DRUG USERS WILL SAVE LIVES

Sacha Pfeiffer's powerful Globe report ("Overwhelmed by overdoses, 
clinic offers a room for highs," Page A1, April 26) on Boston 
Healthcare for the Homeless Program's new safe space project, where 
drug users can receive medical monitoring and support while they are 
high, is a ground-breaking and essential new intervention in treating 
and helping those whose lives are most at risk from opioids.

Today's unprecedented opioid crisis requires creative interventions 
on many fronts. The safe space project is highly innovative for 
Massachusetts, deeply humane for the individual, and realistic in the 
kind of new interventions we must consider implementing if we are to 
get ahead of this epidemic.

Boston Healthcare for the Homeless recognized a major gap in how our 
state deals with addiction. They acted on that void to create a 
sound, reasonable, and nonjudgmental medical intervention that 
unquestionably will save countless lives.

There is no sugarcoating the deadly effects of this substance abuse 
crisis in our community. I applaud Boston Healthcare for the Homeless 
for taking the risk and daring to add an essential new choice to a 
toolbox that includes treatment, health care, prevention, and outreach.

Jonathan D. Scott

Boston
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom