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Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Would drug injection sites work for California? Lessons from Vancouver

More than 52,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2015, mostly from heroin and prescription painkillers. California lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow eight counties, including LA, to open sites where people could legally inject drugs. Medical professionals would supervise to prevent a fatal overdose.

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By Madeleine Brand • Aug 10, 2017 • 1 min read

More than 52,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2015, mostly from heroin and prescription painkillers. California lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow eight counties, including LA, to open sites where people could legally inject drugs. Medical professionals would supervise to prevent a fatal overdose. Vancouver was the first city in North America to open a supervised injection center in 2003, and the model is now spreading to other Canadian cities.

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    Madeleine Brand

    Host, 'Press Play'

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    Gina Pollack

    Producer

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    Sarah Sweeney

    Vice President of Talk Programming, KCRW

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    Dr. Perry Kendall

    British Columbia's chief medical officer

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