New Report Released, Harm Reduction Faith Leader and National Faith Leader Call for Moral Action from Biden Admin.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, February 8, 2021
MEDIA CONTACT
Austin Schuler, aschuler@faithinpubliclife.org | 540-280-3393
New Report Released, Harm Reduction Faith Leader and National Faith Leader Call for Moral Action from Biden Admin.
Min. Blyth Barnow, “People who use drugs are worthy in the eyes of God. They must be recognized as worthy by our elected leaders as well.”
Licking County, Ohio/Washington, D.C. – According to NPR, a committee made up of members of Congress, federal agencies and field experts just released a nearly 150-page report examining synthetic opioids. The report recommends more education and stresses the importance of naloxone, the drug that can reverse opioid overdoses, and recommends more distribution of fentanyl test strips.
Rev. Jennifer Butler, CEO of Faith in Public Life
“People who use drugs deserve resources and solidarity. Instead, in our country, we have a racist drug war that disproportionately harms Black, Brown and Native people and has taken countless lives. We know that harm reduction policies save lives without robbing people of their freedom and dignity. It’s long past time for the federal government to put resources and funds in local organizing and the communities who need it the most. The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) needs to allow life-saving medicine like naloxone to be sold over-the-counter so it can be easily distributed to people who need it most. Empowerment, not incarceration, is the moral path forward.”
Min. Blyth Barnow, Ohio Associate Director, Faith in Public Life
“In Ohio, people of faith and people who use drugs are working together to save lives in the face of unjust laws and ineffective policies. With the leadership of local organizing that includes people who use drugs, we delivered 7,000 Narcan kits last year through churches and the community.
But we see our neighbors and loved ones lose their lives to reversible overdose while pharmaceutical companies charge up to $125 for just two doses of Narcan. Fentanyl test strips are still technically illegal in Ohio. In Licking County, where I live, local authorities banned syringe service programs. We are still battling elected officials at the local, state and federal level to get the resources we need to save lives. Many people who use drugs are aware of the dangers of fentanyl; we do not need another messaging campaign from the federal government. We need funding for programs that we know save lives.
People who use drugs are worthy in the eyes of God. They must be recognized as worthy by our elected leaders as well.”
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Faith in Public Life is a national movement of clergy and faith leaders united in the prophetic pursuit of justice, equality and the common good. Together, with a network of over 50,000 leaders, they are leading the fight to advance just policies at the state and federal level that affirm our values and the human dignity of all.