URGENT - ACT TODAY! - Opening A Dialogue on Overdose Prevention

[Maine Harm Reduction Alliance]

Hello Fellow Harm Reductionists! Please share widely!

Act today and help change minds about overdose prevention and pass LD 1686!

We need to convince Republicans that law enforcement and first responders are not enough to truly address this epidemic. We need to convince them to support LD 1686 in its most comprehensive form. To do this, they need to hear from you, their constituents.

Today, Friday, and over the weekend is a great time to reach out to your legislators. So take a few minutes to pick up the phone and reach out to them.

• First, if you don't already know your legislators look them up by finding your town on this site: http://www.maine.gov/legis/house/townlist.htm

• Know your legislators names? click here and check to see if your legislator is on our PRIORITY contact list. These are people that we NEED to reach out to to bring around as soon as possible. This list is organized in alphabetical order by last name.

• Call or email your legislators using the contact information there. Tell them...
  

"With roughly one death every other day due to a drug overdose, Maine NEEDS LD 1686 and Law enforcement and first responders are NOT enough to address the epidemic of drug overdose deaths. First responders often don't arrive in time. Research tells us that concerns over side-effects are being greatly exaggerated and that most people can administer the medicine with minimal training. To make a difference in rates of overdose deaths we need to make naloxone available to the people who are in the right place at the right time -  family and friends of people at risk. Given the choice between side-effects or death, I would choose side-effects any day, and  any parent of an overdose victim would have as well. Please support LD 1686 in its entirety and expand access to naloxone for parents, family and friends of those at risk."

Did they respond??? This is a great opportunity to open a dialogue with them. Click here for a one-pager on this issue.

• Not on the list??? Call/write anyway - tell them... I saw that you supported LD 1046, the narcan bill last year, and I just wanted to make sure that we had your support on LD 1686, this sessions overdose prevention bill. To make a difference we need to expand access to naloxone beyond first responders for friends and family and others most likely to be in the right place at the right time.

• Once you've contacted your legislators go here to tell us about it!

I'm already getting reports from advocates in field that a party line is being drawn. Republican legislators are touting a bill that would ONLY expand access to naloxone for first responders. To make a difference we need to act now to change their minds.

Together we helped push this important public health bill through Health and Human Services. YOU made that possible. But our work isn't done yet. In order to make sure that this bill gets past the Governor's red veto pen we need a 3/4 majority in both the House and the Senate. Together we can pass this bill! ACT TODAY to help change minds!

For more information or support contact me!

Kenney Miller
Executive Director, Downeast AIDS Network
Co-founder, Maine Harm Reduction Alliance

Cell. (207) 460-2766
Email. ME...@downeastaidsnetwork.org