Inside the bright new building in the center of Los Angeles-Skid Low, homeless people are in a courtyard covered with canopy. Some are waiting to take a shower, wash or receive drugs for addiction treatment. Others took a break on the shaded grass and asked for a call as the intake line for the house became more crowded.
SKID ROW CARE CAMPUS was officially opened this spring as a sufficient product for people living in the streets of this collapsed area. Pop -up fruit stand and tent camps have lined up with sidewalks, and dealers are wielding meth and pentanil in the outdoor drug market. In recent afternoon, some people who were sick or driven out as pedestrians walked out of the report.
For those who work for drinking, clinical trials are in the field to provide mental health and addiction treatment. Skid Row’s first metadon clinic will open this year. For those who are not ready to break the drug or alcohol, the campus offers a clean syringe that allows you to shoot clean syringes more safely.
As many Americans have grown unclean growth in street homelessness, the city and the city have returned to a difficult crime approach that disadvantage people about external life and material disorders. But skid low facilities showcase the inclusion of Los Angeles County leaders on the principle of decreasing damage. About 75,000 -In middle Largest All County in the United States. Evidence shows This approach can help individuals enter the treatment, drink alcohol, and end homeless people, and addiction experts and county health officials have added the benefits of public health improvement.
“We get a really bad rap for this, but this is the safest way to use the safest drug.”
Even in spite of decline Use of drugs and alcohol in case of overdose death Main cause of death Among the homeless people of the county. Living in distance or dull camping sites, homeless people bury the health care system at high costs due to unlimited treatment, emergency room trips, inpatient hospitalization, and deaths of many people. Advocates say the decrease in damage allows homeless people to give up their jobs, taxpayers’ assistant housing, health care and other social welfare services. But it is a hot debate.
Nationwide GAVIN NEWSOM Governor In California, you are reluctant to adopt damage reduction skills, such as a place where needle exchange or drug use is supervised. The Democratic Party is more supportive than the Republican Party National polls This year, we found lukewarm support throughout the political spectrum of such intervention.
Los Angeles ignores Donald Trump’s agenda and abolishes those who advocate and reject forced mental health and addiction treatment for homeless people. The city was also a large -scale protest on Trump’s immigration crackdown, and the president fought by placing the Defense Forces and Marine Corps.
Trump The most detailed remarks Homeless people and drug use disorders attack people who use drugs as criminals during the campaign, and homeless people said, “There is no right to change all parks and sidewalks into a place where you can squat.” The Minister of Health and Welfare Robert F. Kennedy Jr. focused on Trump’s treatment.
“The Minister of Kennedy stands with President Trump,” said Vianca Rodriguez Feliciano. “HHS is focusing on helping individuals to restore individuals, heal the community, clean, safely, and healthy in the city.”
no way Comprehensive report This year, almost half of the Californian homeless population, led by Margot Kushel, a medical professor at the University of Francisco, California, has found that there are complex behavioral health demands defined by regular drugs, severe drinking, hallucinations or recent mental hospitalization.
She said that it was almost impossible to be drunk to be marked by the lack of confusion, violence, sexual assault, sleeping, and lack of housing and health care.
Skid Low Care Campus
According to Anna Gorman, the chief operating officer of the Community Program of Los Angeles County Health Service, the new Care Campus has raised funds with local, state and federal homeless and health care funds for local, state and federal homeless people and health care funds. Lee has completed the initial construction. The operators say that campuses should be able to withstand potential federal spending cuts because campuses support funds through various sources.
The glass front door leads to the atrium inside the yellow and orange complex. It also presented the opinions of homeless people who advised County for not only layout but also services provided in the field. There are 22 recovery beds and 48 additional beds for people without seniors, arts and well -being programs, food storage rooms and pets. Rabbits and snakes are also allowed.
The 65 -year -old John Wright asked for safe and comfortable to mix with homeless visitors in May afternoon, 65 years old.
“Everyone thinks it’s a criminal as we are taking away all people, but we’re not doing it, but we’re working because we are a drug addict, but now we’re working because we are doing metadon as we are a criminal as we are taking all people.”
Near SKID ROW, Anthony Willis took a rest in a wheelchair by taking TOKE from a cracking pipe. He just learned about the new care campus, explaining that he was a homeless for about 20 years before entering the taxpayer apartment in Skid Low. He sends most of the day and night with drugs and alcohol from the distance.
He said the drug could help him to stay awake, providing fellowship and physical protection to homeless friends without housing. At the age of 62, Willis, who is kneeling on asthma and joint knees, said, “Sometimes it’s hard to live here.” But it is also my community. “
Willis said that the care campus could be a place to help kick the drug, but he was not sure he was ready.
Research shows that the decrease in damage can help prevent death and can cause long -term recovery to those who use materials, according to the Los Angeles County Public Health Bureau, and Brian Hurley, an addictive psychiatrist and medical officer of the Control Bureau. Through this technology, medical service providers and social welfare workers can meet people when they are ready to use drugs or are ready to receive treatment.
“Recovery is a learning activity, and reality is part of recurrence,” he said. “People have not found a way to go back and forth and sometimes cope with stress.”
Shaking public opinion
In accordance with the principle of damage reduction, public officials admit that people will use drugs. The government, which a taxpayer supports funds, provides services that can be used safely without people smoking or requiring an ascetic in return with government subsidies and treatment programs.
Los Angeles County is spending Hundreds of millions of to HomelessAlso, during the multi -year releaseLA of LA“A campaign where the public support, the stigma fight, and the people use the service and request for treatment. StrategyCampaigns, including social media advertisements and billboards, promote the expansion of the treatment and damage reduction services of those using drugs.
The organization led the state Damage Reduction Campaign We are working hard to prevent overdose and public health campaigns. 7 states Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has spent about $ 70 million donated.
SHOShanna Scholar, director of the Los Angeles County Health Service Department, said, “We will support all possible ways because we do not believe that people should die because people use drugs.” In the end, some people can be treated, but what we really want is to prevent overdose and save life.
Los Angeles is also conflicting with the Democratic Governor of California. NEWSOM led a strict law for homeless people and addiction and supported the treatment requirements of mental illness or drugs. California voters last year Approved initiative 36Through this, if you are prosecuted as a serious criminal sin against some drug crimes, the court can be accused of murder charges for selling or providing illegal drugs for murdering someone, and more easily ordered for those who use drugs.
Even San Francisco approved measures that the welfare recipient had to participate in treatment to continue to receive cash support last year. The Daniel Lurie market is recently to the city officials. Pipe and foilInstead, you need to participate in medication to receive services. Lurie signed a recovery preferred ordinance and said, “PriorityLong -term easingThe same is true for the use of materials. Policy expansion While funding for new cold sites and treatment centers for those who recover from addiction.
‘Hazardous encouragement’
Senator Roger Nielo, a Republican leader, representing conservative suburbs outside Sacramento, says the state should improve the lives of homeless people through more stringent drug policies. He argues that homeless people may remain on the street if they provide a home without drug supply or a duty to enter treatment.
He said he should strongly implement the proposal 36, and the homeless should be treated in return for housing.
Niello said, “I think it is a hard love.” Los Angeles will encourage it. Honestly, they continue to feed and harm people killing people. “
Keith Humphreys worked in George W. BUSH and Barack Obama administration Reduction of pioneered damage The nationwide practices said the community should find a balance between Leniency and Law Execution.
“Parents must be able to walk to the park without being traumatic. You must be able to own business without being robbed.” “Damage reduction and treatment are all seated, and it is necessary to focus on prevention and public safety.”
Just outside Skid Row Care Campus, Cindy Ashley recently shot heroin and left the local hospital emergency room for deep skin infections in the hands and arms. She also regularly smells cracks.
She was enthusiastic about her home, so she was able to heal two surgery on infection. She learned about the new care campus and was in a hurry to get her name on the list of housing waiting.
She shed tears.
I wrote this article KFF Health NewsPublished California Health LineEditorial independent service California Health Care Foundation.
KFF Health News is a nationwide newsroom that produces in -depth journalism about health problems and is one of KFF’s core operating programs. Learn more KFF.
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