As Fentanyl Deaths Spike, LA Hands Out Crack Pipes – By Ben Wilson (Washington Free Beacon) / June 2, 2023
Amid a spike in fentanyl deaths, Los Angeles County is turning to creative solutions, including handing out crack pipes.
County teams are passing out glass pipes for smoking opioids, meth, and crack to drug addicts on the street, the Los Angeles Times reported. They also dispense needles, wipes, and medicine for treating overdoses. The supplies are called “harm reduction,” and officials argue that it’s safer to smoke the drugs than inject them with potentially contaminated needles and fentanyl. Los Angeles County increased its spending on harm reduction from $5.4 million to $31.5 million this year.
The report comes as fentanyl overdose deaths accelerate in California and state Democrats in April blocked two bills that would have strengthened penalties for drug dealers who kill or seriously injure someone with fentanyl or are caught with enough of the drug to kill thousands of people.
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