When it comes to public drug use, many want to emphasize compassion over criminalization. It’s important to remember that neglect isn’t compassion – intervention is.

The extent of that intervention has been a contentious issue in Washington, leading to a special session in May which made hard drug posession a gross misdemeanor while providing pathways for treatment.

But the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office says they are too busy for that. If it’s not a felony, it’s not going to be addressed.

The City Council is considering a solution – and will be voting on June 6. This would allow Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison to enforce state law and prosecute possession of hard drug like heroin and fentanyl

It’s critical that residents get in touch and let them know that they won’t accept open drug use to continue in Seattle. Intervention is necessary.

CONTACT THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL

We deserve better than the status quo. We need a Seattle ordinance that helps people in addiction by breaking the cycle and getting them out of their current situations, not being left to endanger themselves on the streets.

Those who have experienced addiction can tell you that an arrest can be the thing that turns their life around.

Just ask Ginny Burton. After three arrests, she was able to turn her life around and is now advocating for that form of intervention to help other people in her former situation. As she wrote here at Change Washington, “We must first focus on the underlying causes of an individual’s circumstances and equip people with the skills to take control of their lives.” Too many harm reduction policies actually enable harm. We can’t allow it to continue.

Get in touch with the City Council using the link above before it’s too late.