ADAI’s Dr. Caleb Banta-Green Speaks to WA Legislative House Committee in Support of HB 1574

Yesterday, ADAI Research Professor Caleb Banta-Green, PhD, MPH, MSW, director of the Center for Community-Engaged Drug Education, Epidemiology & Research (CEDEER), testified in front of the Washington State Legislature’s House Community Safety committee in support of HB 1574, a bill that aims to protect access to life-saving care and substance use services.

The bill provides clarity around protections for people who access drug checking services – a harm reduction intervention in which small amounts of drugs or drug residue are tested to determine what substances are in the sample. It would make changes to ensure that people using drug checking services are exempted from arrest and prosecution. Learn more about drug checking here.

The bill also clarifies the types of locations able to provide safer use supplies to include “health care facilities” like hospitals.

“These services have been repeatedly shown to improve the health of people who use drugs and not lead to increases in drug use,” Dr. Banta-Green told the committee.

The act also aims to expand the state’s Good Samaritan Law, better protecting people who call 911 during a drug overdose. Washington’s original law, one of the first in the nation, protected people from being prosecuted for possession or use of a control substance, while the new law would also protect them from having property seized or being penalized for violation of restraining orders, probation or parole, or failing to appear for a nonviolent, nonsexual charge. Learn more about the current Good Sam Law here.

“Fear of arrest can be a substantial barrier to seeking help,” said Dr. Banta-Green. “More calls means more lives saved.”

Lastly, the bill would remove the ability of local municipalities and counties to effectively ban harm reduction services.

Testifying along with Dr. Banta-Green were Malika Lamont, Director of VOCAL-WA, Cole Meckle, pastor at Gather Church, and Everett Maroon, MPH, Executive Director of Blue Mountain Heart to Heart.

Read Dr. Banta-Green’s testimony | Watch the complete HB 1574 testimony (starts at 1:12:00)