Part 8/12:
The executive order explicitly states that federal grants will not support drug injection sites or illicit drug use. However, the current approach to harm reduction—providing clean needles, supervised consumption sites, and tolerance for urban camping—remains highly controversial. Critics argue these strategies enable ongoing drug use and urban decay, failing to incentivize recovery or address the underlying issues.
Advocates for tougher policies insist that resources should instead go toward treatment, mental health care, and safe, long-term facilities where individuals can get help without enabling dependency. The conversation around solutions is complex, with some fearing that current policies only perpetuate "band-aid" approaches rather than true resolution.