A federal judge in Philadelphia has been grilling the city’s top federal prosecutor over his opposition to a supervised injection site meant to address the opioid crisis.
U.S. Attorney William McSwain accuses the nonprofit leaders backing the plan of “hubris” for thinking they can break the law.
Supporters of the proposed Safehouse site include Democratic Mayor Jim Kenney, District Attorney Larry Krasner and former Gov. Ed Rendell. They believe the program would reduce the city’s 1,100 annual overdose deaths and help steer users into treatment.
McSwain says they should take the fight to Congress, not the courthouse. He’s asked the judge to find the plan violates the Controlled Substances Act by inviting people to use drugs on the property.
Safehouse lawyers say it’s not illegal to stand nearby with life-saving medical help.
