Arizonans need public health, not longer prison sentences.

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The message:

Instead of proposing public health solutions to address the opioid overdose crisis, some lawmakers would rather take people suffering from addiction out of their community and put them behind bars. Senate Bill 1621 would put someone in prison for a minimum of 15 years if they sold or shared drugs with someone who later died. Senate Bill 1725 would lower the threshold amount for fentanyl-related offenses from 200 grams to 9 grams – well below the daily dose of some fentanyl prescriptions. Those who are most likely to be charged under these bills are people who need access to treatment, not prison.

The recipient:

Your state representatives

The impact:

These “War on Drugs” inspired policies will only increase the prison population, cause more harm, and cost more lives. Urge your representatives to vote NO on SB 1621 and SB 1725.

Oppose SB1621 and SB1725!

The message:

The recipient:

Your state representatives

The impact:

These “War on Drugs” inspired policies will only increase the prison population, cause more harm, and cost more lives. Urge your representatives to vote NO on SB 1621 and SB 1725.

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Your Message

Subject Please oppose SB1621 and SB1725

We all want an end to the devastation and loss caused by the opioid crisis, but the only way we’ll get through this is with a public health approach. Please oppose SB1621 and SB1725, which will only increase Arizona’s skyrocketing prison population and make it harder for people to get the treatment they need.

Message Body

Like many Arizonans, I am deeply concerned about the worsening opioid crisis our nation is facing. I am very interested in legislation that can help mitigate the uptick of overdose deaths we have seen in Arizona, but SB1621 and SB1725 are more of the same harmful legislation that put us where we are today.

Senate Bill 1621 would put someone in prison for a minimum of 15 years if they sold or shared drugs with someone who later died. There are over three decades of evidence demonstrating that bills like SB 1621 only result in unnecessary death and suffering, and the vast majority of cases charged under laws like this are applied to someone who shared drugs with a loved one. Senate Bill 1725 would lower the threshold amount for fentanyl-related offenses from 200 grams to 9 grams – well below the daily dose of some fentanyl prescriptions. Under this bill, far more people would be charged with possession for sale when carrying amounts only intended for personal use, barring them from getting probation on their first and second offenses to access community-based treatment.

People with substance use disorder aren’t calculating their risk of prison before using or selling small amounts of drugs to sustain their addiction. They’re struggling with a disease and seeking relief the only way they can. Extreme sentences for possessing, sharing, and selling fentanyl won’t help them. It will only put them in prison at taxpayer expense, where they are unlikely to receive treatment and are more likely to overdose in government custody or immediately after they are released.

There is no statistically significant relationship between drug imprisonment rates and drug use in states across the country, and Arizona is seeing this in real time. In recent years, the state prison population has risen and the opioid overdose rate has stayed alarmingly high. Please find real public health solutions and oppose SB 1621 and SB 1725.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]

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Arizonans need public health, not longer prison sentences.

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Oppose SB1621 and SB1725!

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