Addiction experts speak out against “Kristen’s Law”

June 4, 2018 4:23 pm

By: Chloe Leshner

cleshner@abc6.com
@ChloeLeshner

WARWICK, R.I. (WLNE) — It’s through the Rhode Island Senate and now a bill that would send certain drug dealers to prison for life, is getting some big support in the house. But today, addiction experts gathered to speak out against "Kristen’s Law," saying it could actually worsen the opioid epidemic.

They say the intentions behind "Kristen’s Law" are good but that there are too many negative implications and that criminalizing substance use won’t stop people from overdosing.

A group of medical professionals and recovering addicts saying no to a law that would lock up drug dealers for life.

"I hate this disease, I hate this epidemic, I wish it could stop and if this bill would do that, i would support it 1000% but this bill won’t do that," says Dr. Jody Rich with the Rhode Island Medical Society.

"Kristen’s Law" is named after Kristen Coutu who died from a fetanyl overdose. It would put a life sentence on the table for those who provide the deadly dose.

"We’re spending too much of our effort and energy and discussion and money on trying to incarcerate our way out of this epidemic and that will not work," says Rich. He thinks this is taking the wrong approach especially on the heels of a decrease in overdose deaths.

The panel giving much of the credit to the Governor’s task force that’s been focusing on treatments and interventions.

"This bill doesn’t fit the narrative of what they’re doing right now with the overdose task force," says Haley McKee. She’s in long term recovery and spent 19 months in prison. She worries this will only catch the lowest level drug dealers and will keep people from calling for help if a friend is overdosing.

"I fear this is going to lead to a spike in overdose deaths because people aren’t going to be as willing to pick up the phone and call for a friend out of fear of culpability," says McKee.

ABC 6 spoke to the Kristen Coutu’s family back in March. They say they hope this bill will protect other families from suffering a tragedy like theirs.
Speaker Mattelio sponsors this bill and the House Judiciary Committee will vote on Wednesday.