Initiative Proposed to Ban Heroin Safe-injection Sites

SEATTLE (AP) — A suburban Seattle city council member has announced an initiative to ban safe-injection sites in King County for heroin and other drugs.

The Seattle Times reports the proposed initiative announced Thursday requires signatures from 47,443 valid county voters to qualify for the November ballot.

The initiative's chief sponsor, Bothell City Council-member Joshua Freed, says public-consumption sites are not the appropriate response and would enable users.

Freed says he'd prefer an emphasis on discouraging doctors from prescribing opiates, expanding treatment access, and making sure police officers and firefighters are equipped with the overdose-reducing drug naloxone.

A task force created by Seattle Mayor Ed Murray and King County Executive Dow Constantine last year recommended creation of two safe-injection sites — one in Seattle and one in another King County site.

Murray and Constantine endorsed the panel's recommendations.