Iowa cities should embrace harm reduction

Cities that have embraced harm reduction are seeing record lows in addiction, overdose, and suicide. Here in the U.S., I fear that we will keep hitting record highs until we rein in the war on drugs. There are currently scheduled items proving helpful with depression, suicidal thoughts, addiction, pts, and overdose reduction.

Last week, the City Council in Oakland, Calif., voted to decriminalize psychedelics that come from plants and fungi. City councils around the country, and the world, are discussing expunging, or clearing, the criminal records of those that were convicted of these sorts of related crimes. Iowa cities need to be having these discussions.

These actions will help countless numbers of people. Not only is this the right thing to do, but the evidence is there to support that this will save cities money, make cities money and allow cities to focus on violent crimes.

Marco Battaglia

Des Moines