Medical Provider Support for HB23-1202

March 30, 2023 

Re: Medical Provider Support for HB23-1202 

Dear Chairwoman Fields and Members of Senate Health and Human Services Committee, 

As physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and nurses caring for people with substance use disorders across Colorado, we write in unified support of HB23-1202, Local Control of Life-Saving Overdose Prevention Centers. 

Overdose Prevention Centers (OPCs) are safe sanctioned spaces with medical oversight designed to reduce fatal overdoses and other serious health problems associated with drug use, including endocarditis, skin infections, hepatitis C and HIV. In the context of an unpredictable drug supply that now often contains fatal amounts of fentanyl and, increasingly, xylazine, OPCs help keep people alive and provide them an opportunity for recovery. Amid the worst overdose crisis in history and while working in an overwhelmed healthcare system, we—frontline providers—are asking legislators to ensure we have every evidence-based tool available to us to do our jobs. OPCs are but one tool in our toolbox that will help us as we care for Coloradans. 

The first modern OPC opened in Switzerland in 1986. There are now some 200 OPCs operating in at least 15 countries, including war-torn Ukraine and the United States. Evidence from across the globe demonstrates a decrease in crime, vagrancy, and discarded needles in communities with OPCs. Importantly, there is no scientifically valid evidence that OPCs increase or enable drug use. But there is ample evidence OPCs decrease overdose deaths. Since opening in December 2021, two New York City-based OPCs report having reversed nearly 700 overdoses and zero deaths. In addition to preventing fatal overdoses, OPCs prevent health conditions that commonly result in hospitalization, allowing healthcare providers to focus on other urgent health crises. People who regularly use OPCs have higher rates of initiating addiction treatment and counseling. Linking to treatment services is often a first step in the recovery cascade. 

We deliver healthcare in diverse locations across the state and we know HB23-1202 will not itself establish any OPCs in Colorado. Instead, this bill will allow municipalities, with direction from government officials, community members, and public health and medical experts, to decide if this tool is right for their community. We understand that no funds will be allocated from the State as a result of this bill and no one will be forced to open, or even consider, an OPC if it is not desired by that community. 

Finally, we are, by nature, hopeful people. We hope for a world where one day we won’t need OPCs, where we take care of people before they experience a crisis. We hope for a day where everyone can experience life in optimal health. We want people and our communities to be whole – OPCs are a bridge to get us there. We hope you will work with us in helping make our communities whole. We enthusiastically and emphatically urge a yes vote on HB23-1202. 

Thank you for your leadership on the critical issues impacting our most vulnerable patients. Sincerely, 

Organizational Signatories 

Colorado Academy of Family Physicians 

Colorado Association of Local Public Health Officials 

Colorado Nurses Association 

Colorado Psychiatric Society 

Colorado Society of Addiction Medicine 

Individual Signatories 

Abraham M. Nussbaum, MD 

Andrés Felipe Henao, MD; Associate Professor, Infectious Diseases Division

Carlos Franco-Paredes MD, MPH; Colorado State University 

D. Tyler Coyle, MD, MS; President-Elect, Colorado Society of Addiction Medicine

David Saxon, MD 

Elizabeth Boggs, MD 

Erin Bredenberg, MD 

Erin Szemak, NP; University of Colorado Hospital 

Frances Vernon; Medical Student, University of Colorado School of Medicine

Haley Briggs, PA 

Hannan Braun, MD; Denver Health 

Hermione Hurley, MD 

Hillary Dunlevy, MD 

Ingrid Binswanger, MD 

Jarratt Pytell, MD; University of Colorado School of Medicine 

Jess Coulter, MD 

JK Costello, MD, MPH; Steadman Group 

Joshua Barocas, MD; University of Colorado School of Medicine 

Joshua Blum, MD; Past President of Colorado Society of Addiction Medicine

Karli Yarnell, PA 

Kellie Hawkins, MD, MPH 

Kristine Erlandson, MD; University of Colorado School of Medicine 

Lindsay Nicholson, MD; University of Colorado School of Medicine 

Madison Hexter, PA-C; University of Colorado School of Medicine 

Mark Duncan, MD; University of Colorado Hospital 

Mark Earnest MD, PhD; University of Colorado Hospital 

Martin Krsak, MD, MSc, FASAM 

Misha Huang, MD; University of Colorado School of Medicine 

Philip Vatterott, MD; Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Addiction Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine 

Robert Belknap, MD 

Sarah Axelrath, MD; Addiction Medicine Physician 

Sarah E. Rowan, MD 

Shanta Zimmer, MD; University of Colorado School of Medicine 

Susan Calcaterra, MD, MPH, MS; University of Colorado School of Medicine

Tim Jenkins, MD 

Tirzah Wethern, MD 

Whitney Miller, NP 

Zachary Asher, PA-C; Critical Care