Dear Editor, As a person who has seen people slowly die from dirty needles, I’m confused by the slow reaction from society. Drug addiction and overdoses cost millions of dollars. Lifesaving surgeries don’t always work out. “Philly dope” infections turn people black from the inside out, l eading to amputations that our taxpayers fund.  The Danes have already proven the success of injection site systems. Vermont’s program is funded by opioid settlement money — Vermont’s share of lawsuits against drug manufacturers — and doesn’t cost taxpayers a dime. If you’re a fiscal conservative and want to save money over the long haul in healthcare, this is a good place to start. The establishment of “fix rooms” in Denmark in 2012 led critics to fear a decline in public safety. Many worried the plan would increase drug use, attract crime and make neighborhoods worse. Sound familiar? We hear it all the time from certain politicians in Vermont who understand that creating fear wins elections.  However, the data and research provided a different result. The European Union Drugs Agency reported that Denmark saw recordable improvements. One benefit was the decrease in needles collected from streets and school grounds. Reports showed that instead of picking up thousands of needles a week, just one year after opening the rooms, the number had dropped by 80%. The program also removed the normalization of drug use in public. A highly visible open drug scene moved entirely behind closed doors. You can’t change the culture of drug use unless you remove the visibility of it. European studies confirmed that safe injection sites actually lowered crime rates. They acted as a bridge to healthcare because addiction is a healthcare issue.  The fearmongering has to stop for the sake of humanity. Stop using people as a political tool to turn society against each other for votes. It’s sickening. If you’re a Vermonter, you probably know someone who has lost the battle of addiction. Let’s stop judging each other’s mistakes and create cherished moments that lead people out of the gates of hell back into the community so we can grow and live.  We need leaders to stand up and say, “enough is enough.” Are we Vermont Strong? Or are we a state of fear and hate?  Jeremy Ayotte,  Fletcher, Vt. Read the story on VTDigger here: Drug injection sites are a good thing for Vermont. ...read more read less