Urge the Mayor to Continue Harm Reduction Services and Involve Relevant Organizations

We, concerned citizens of Philadelphia, are deeply invested in the well-being of our community. We believe in social justice and public health. Our community is facing a significant challenge with substance use disorder. According to the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (2019), Kensington has one of the highest rates of drug overdose deaths in Philadelphia.

We are therefore calling on our Mayor not to suspend services that focus on harm reduction, and for our leaders and legislators to be honest about the services that are currently being offered. City Council has made untrue statements regarding the work being done to help the community. These services play a crucial role in saving lives and reducing the negative impacts associated with drug use. They reduce HIV transmission rates, offer overdose prevention education, and connect individuals with treatment options.

Furthermore, we urge our Mayor to invite organizations that specialize in harm reduction work to participate actively in decision-making processes regarding these issues moving forward. Their expertise can help shape effective strategies for addressing substance abuse problems within our community.

We believe that suspending these services would be detrimental to public health and safety while involving relevant organizations could lead us towards a more comprehensive solution for this crisis.