Bellevue Council Approves Permanent Safe-Injection Site Ban

BELLEVUE, WA - The Bellevue City Council voted unanimously Monday night to approve a permanent prohibition on safe-injection sites. The council passed an initial ban in August and the new measure extends that to a permanent ban. The council determined that the safe-injection sites violate the city's land-use code.

The safe-injection sites have been proposed by a King County task force to fight opioid overdose deaths. The safe-use sites - where technically any drug could be used - would centralize social and health services, and, proponents say, would prevent overdose deaths and better link addicts with resources.

But there has been backlash against the idea, as demonstrated by the Bellevue Council's vote and other local cities that have rejected the idea. A anti-safe use site ballot initiative, I-27, was blocked by a King County judge on Monday, but organizers are expected to appeal that ruling.

The King County Council approved a measure Monday to put safe-injection sites, or Community Health Engagement Locations (CHEL), on the ballot in February.

Currently there are no safe-injection sites in the U.S. But proponents say one example of success is the program initiated in Vancouver, B.C. (For more local news, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Bellevue Patch, click here to find your local Washington Patch. Also, follow us on Facebook, and if you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Image via City of Bellevue