Seattle mulls creation of safe drug use sites

SEATTLE (AP) — A Seattle group has plans to create a public space where people can inject and smoke hard drugs under medical supervision.

Our news partner The Seattle Times reports that another group has launched a campaign to build support for the idea among politicians and communities.

Proponents of such a site say it could reduce overdose deaths, HIV and Hepatitis C transmissions and the number of used needles on city streets. They also argue that the sites would keep drug users alive long enough to seek treatment, pointing to a safe injection site in Canada that has been around for 15 years and had no overdose deaths.

A King County heroin addiction task force formed in March may recommend one or more safe-consumption sites, and Sheriff John Urquhart says he's leaning toward backing the idea.