Atticus,  a solution has already been described in the report, Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General's Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health November 2016. Under Strategies to Reduce Harm, page 4-10: "...outreach and education programs, needle/syringe exchange programs, overdose prevention education,and access to naloxone to reverse potentially lethal opioid overdose."

Needle/syringe distribution enhanced with counselors, wound care, and access to detox/rehab is what we need.   We need treatment!

King County Public Health does not acknowledge the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction December 2016 Harm Reduction interventions for Opioid Injectors Meta Study: there is INSUFFICIENT evidence to support the effectiveness of drug consumption rooms in reducing HIV/HCV infections.  

King County Public Health sells the idea of $6 mil in public health savings from averting HIV/HCV.   But they don't want to acknowledge these findings.  What is up with that?