Denver Needle Exchange Program Not Helping With Record Drug Overdose Deaths

Denver, CO – The Denver needle exchange program is not helping with record drug overdose deaths in 2020.

According to the Denverite, which reported statistics from the Medical Examiner, Denver already matched the number of drug overdose deaths from 2019.

It only took nine months to match the 225 deaths from 2019. In 2018, there were 209 fatal drug overdoses.

For those who do not know, Denver operates a needle exchange program. It provides clean needles to intravenous drug users.

While it might [Citizen Press emphasis] help cut down on bloodborne diseases, the program definitely enables drug users.

Executive director, Lisa Raville, blames COVID-19 shutdowns and claims people are using alone.

Raville said that because libraries and other public spaces with bathrooms are closed, there is less of a chance that someone can intervene in an overdose. About 17 percent of people who die from drug overdoses are also experiencing homelessness.

“I think people are using alone,” she said.
From the Denverite

To put that in perspective, the executive director of this program is essentially encouraging people to use deadly and dangerous drugs together.

Not only that, but she is claiming deaths are on the rise because drug users cannot use public bathrooms in libraries. Gosh, it would be so much better to have children finding overdosing drug users in bathrooms. NOT.

We are not saying we do not want to help people struggling with substance abuse. We do.

However, encouraging drug use in any setting is absurd.

These people need help and intervention. Instead, this Denver program is enabling deadly drug abuse.

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