EX SSI arose tmersency ovate Recovery (EIR TaskForce The Overdose Emergency innovative Recovery Task Force (OER) (sa group of interlsciplinary individuals wth 2 wide range of expertise EIR is composed of those with lved/Lving experience, elected officials from all levels of local gavernment in Seattle and King County, researchers, advocates, service providers, and community members. OEIR was convened by VOCALWA st the request of community organizers. OFIR is tacked as its name suggests to find innevative recovery options and strategies to address our ongoing and increacing overdose emergency in King county. Over the summer we have met weekly asthe full eroup to share Information and knowledge 2s wel as discuss and develop recommendations. Between our weekly meetings cur members focus in five areas: housing, treatment expansion, harm reduction services, decriminalization/legalzation, and community education/stigms reduction. The full document wil be published later in te Fal (Our work has revealed that adequate housing is 3 crucial component in the foundation of any response. People who are housed and supported are less likely to overdose, Stability, access to appropriate and dignified housing, and services without lscrimination is important for preventing overdoses. Expansion and investment for public health and community based organizations to provide harm reduction services Is one example of the support people need to remain safe. Urgently the geographic reach ot harm reduction services needs to ‘expand in King County especialy to the south where overdose deaths are high and services scarce. Expansion of care Is also needed as dats show that the majority of people who attend syringe exchanges want help reducing theie use. Priotitization and investment in medication for opioid use disorder Le. more buprenorphine, expanding mobile methadone options across the county wil reduce overdoses. investing in peer navigators and peer workers, not just those with certification, but all people with lived experience, will also help the retention of ‘people who use drugs in overdose prevention programs and in navigating the healtheare system ‘The war on drugs infringes on the ile, liberty, and security of people who use drugs and exists primarily due to racism. US drug polly has ‘not been based on evidence for more than 2 century. Decriminaizaton is ane of many necessary steps to dsmantle this racst and antiquated legal doctrine. The decriminalzation of all drugs with considering a move to regulation and legalization of drugs is needed in corde to create opportunities for research and access to 8 regulated safe supply in @ manner that is saest for everyane in the commurity ‘We must move swey from the prohibition based system that has created the concitions for the polscnous ile street supply af drugs and the violent consequences of interdiction on communities. Evidence suggests that all drugs will be safer under a legalzation model and provide potentially bllars of dollars In revenue to governments, like lateries. Legal mezsures should seek to foster equity and reparations for underprivileged and cisproportionately impacted groups. For example, psychedelic compounds have recently regained a reputation as ‘an emerging therapy with effectiveness for substance use disorder, and ComOrDId psychiatric disorders such 3s major depressive aisorder, and post traumatic stress disorder. However, the full benefits cannot be recognized within the currert prohibition based system we have. ‘Ay legal measures or sanctioning psychedelles must prioritize indigenous rituals of the Americas, Arica, and other continents. Often their ways of life are threatened by overharvesting and Wester encroachment. These cultures have utiized these compounds since time immemorial in healing and spiritual practice. Municipalities, in the State of Washington and elzewhere, that have an independent ordinance criminaliting psyehedelies should repeal them, and those that don't should direct their law enfoccament agencies, local prasecutars and ‘municipal courts to depriortize enforcement and should publicly communicate this as municipal policy. State and Federal officals should ‘move to decriminalize these substances and broaden access to psychedelic therapy. This would safeguard psychedelic treatment as 3 ‘potential weatment avenue. Moreover, the money that 's used 10 uphold the prohibition of rugs should be diverted towards investing ir the communities that have been historically targeted by the war on drugs. Uniearning drug war propagands of the last century will take time ané patience. Educating our communities wil be needed at all levels Including law enforcement, children, adults, judges, polticians, medical providers, and all other community members. We hope that the COEIRtask force Is an example of how this callabaration Is possible. t wil take an all hands on deck effort to end the sti¢matization and harm ‘that more than 2 century of prohibition has caused, but together and with this document as a guiding framework we cen start ta move forward in rebuiiing our communities and improving the quality o fe of everyone.