Our response to the crisis of drug addiction should be focused on a clear objective: helping people escape addiction and move toward treatment and recovery. Unfortunately, too much of what is called “harm reduction” has moved away from that objective.
Many government programs distribute the very paraphernalia used to consume dangerous and illegal drugs, including syringes, smoking pipes, foil, and spoons. I believe that crosses a line between helping someone overcome their addiction and facilitating continued drug abuse.
Earlier this year, I introduced an ordinance that would prohibit future Snohomish County tax dollars from being used to purchase and distribute drug paraphernalia. This is a basic question of priorities. As local government funding becomes more constrained by the increasing cost of providing services, we must ask: is it a prudent use of tax dollars to purchase equipment used to consume drugs, or should we be directing more resources toward treatment and recovery?
Advocates of syringe exchange programs point to the public health benefits of reducing the transmission of diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C. Others argue that distributing supplies creates opportunities to build relationships with those who are addicted and eventually connect them with resources. While these considerations deserve to be heard, the discussion should not end there.
I have participated in dozens of ride-alongs with Snohomish County Sheriff’s deputies, many of them with the Office of Neighborhoods. The Office of Neighborhoods partners law enforcement with social workers to meet people where they are and find opportunities to get them into treatment and on a better path. I’ve seen firsthand the relationships these teams build with those struggling on the street and their ability to bring people along when the time is right. They demonstrate the same kind of relationship-building touted by harm reduction advocates, but without distributing supplies used to consume harmful drugs.
The consequences of widespread drug abuse are damaging our communities. Families are losing loved ones. First responders regularly confront overdoses and behavioral health crises. Communities deal with public open-air drug abuse and discarded drug paraphernalia in parks, neighborhoods, and other public spaces. Government should send a clear message that this is unacceptable.
This doesn’t mean turning our backs on those struggling with addiction. We should lead with compassion and ensure that treatment options are available for those ready to take the next step. We should invest in detox, behavioral health treatment, and even involuntary treatment options for those most impacted by the trappings of addiction.
With that said, compassion does not require us to normalize drug abuse or use taxpayer dollars to provide the equipment necessary to continue it. There is an important difference between meeting someone where they are and leaving them there. That is where I believe the approach of harm reduction has lost its way. Preventing an immediate tragedy should not become the final goal of our drug policy; we should aim higher and prioritize recovery and sobriety for those who are struggling.
Harm reduction cannot become harm acceptance. Our goal, and our investments, should be focused on treatment, recovery, and a life free from addiction. I will continue to advocate for policies and investments that move Snohomish County in that direction.
Snohomish County Councilman Nate Nehring
Nate Nehring is an elected member of the Snohomish County Council. Nate and his wife, Savannah, are both lifelong residents of Snohomish County, where they are now raising their four young children. Councilmember Nehring can be reached by email at Nate.Nehring@snoco.org.
Author: Lynnwood Times Contributor
