The ACLU of Colorado filed a lawsuit on 2024年6月4日, seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary and permanent injunction to immediately halt enforcement of a Pueblo City Council ordinance criminalizing the operation of syringe exchange programs (SEPs) in Pueblo. Despite 30 years of evidence demonstrating that SEPs reduce the spread of infectious diseases like HIV and Hepatitis C, 减少过量死亡, 降低医疗保健费用, and reduce the incidence of improperly discarded syringes, Pueblo enacted the ordinance on May 16, 2024, over the opposition of community members and public health experts.
The ACLU of Colorado filed the lawsuit on behalf of the Colorado Health Network (CHN) and the Southern Colorado Harm Reduction Association (SCHRA), two nonprofit organizations that have been safely operating SEPs in Pueblo under State and County authorization since 2014 and 2017, 分别. The complaint asserts that the Pueblo ordinance criminalizing the operation of SEPs is preempted by Colorado state law, which specifically authorizes and funds the SEPs.
Colorado first authorized the operation of SEPs by statute in 2010. 当时, state law required SEPs to obtain prior approval from a county or district board of health. In 2020, in order to remove the issue from political influence, the State modified the law to authorize qualified and experienced non-profits like CHN and SCHRA to operate SEPs without prior board approval.
SEPs such as those operated by Colorado Health Network and SCHRA are a powerful tool in preventing the spread of infectious diseases, including HIV and Hepatitis C. 另外, SEPs cultivate a relationship with participants and can connect them to resources such as overdose prevention 教育, substance use disorder treatment providers, STI测试, 和更多的. Evidence demonstrates that new users of SEPs are five times more likely to enter drug treatment and three times more likely to reduce and/or stop using drugs than those who don’t use the programs.
这种情况下, as part of the ACLU of Colorado’s Campaign for Systemic Equality, is just one example of our commitment to ensuring all Coloradans have access to essential healthcare, 教育, 和harm-prevention.
6月6日, 2024, the Pueblo District 法院 granted a Temporary Restraining Order, enjoining enforcement of the Pueblo ordinance. The 法院 consolidated the merits with the preliminary injunction request and held a final evidentiary hearing on August 13, 2024. 听证会之后, the 法院 ruled that the ordinance put in place by Pueblo City Council to prohibit operation of syringe exchange programs is preempted by state law. This means that syringe exchange programs can continue to be utilized, and the ordinance can no longer be enforced.
Aclu新闻稿:
ACLU of Colorado Sues 普韦布洛市, Seeks to Halt Enforcement of Prohibition on Syringe Exchange Programs2024年6月4日
媒体:
"Syringe Access Programs, 普韦布洛市 Await 法官's Decision on ACLU Lawsuit", The Pueblo Chieftain, August 14, 2024
"Are Needle Exchange Programs Still Banned in Pueblo", KOAA 新闻5, August 13, 2024
"Harm Reduction Attorneys Trade Arguments with Pueblo in Needle Exchange Case", Colorado 新闻line, August 13, 2024
"Pueblo Needle Exchange Ban Blocked For Now After 法官 问题 Temporary Restraining Order", The Pueblo Chieftain2024年6月6日
"ACLU of Colorado Files Lawsuit Against Pueblo's Ban on Needle Exchange Programs", Denver 7, June 5, 2024
"The ACLU Sues Pueblo After the City Banned Syringe Exchanges，《sbobet篮球》，2024年6月5日
"Colorado Harm Reduction Groups Sue Pueblo Over Syringe Exchange Ban", Colorado 新闻line, June 5, 2024
"ACLU Sues Pueblo Over Needle Exchange Ban, Says it 'Violates State Law'", The Pueblo Chieftain2024年6月4日
"ACLU of Colorado Sues 普韦布洛市 Over Prohibition on Syringe Exchange Programs", The Gazette2024年6月4日
"The ACLU is Suing Pueblo Over Its Needle Exchange Ban. Here's What the Lawsuit Says", The Pueblo Chieftain2024年6月4日
"City Council's Syringe Service Ban Garners Attention From ACLU", Pueblo Star Journal, May 21, 2024