With a decisive 38-11 vote, the Pennsylvania Senate passed Senate Bill 347, legislation introduced by Senator Christine Tartaglione (D-2) to prohibit the operation of safe injection sites in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.
“Safe injection sites are not the solution to Pennsylvania’s opioid crisis,” said Senator Tartaglione. “As someone in long-term recovery and as the senator representing Kensington—the epicenter of this epidemic—I believe we can and must do better. Recovery is possible, but it starts with real treatment and real support, not sanctioned spaces for drug use.”
SB 347 clarifies that no facility in Pennsylvania may legally operate for the purpose of providing a space for individuals to use illicit substances. The bill does not impact other harm reduction measures, such as access to naloxone or syringe exchange programs, but it ensures that state policy prioritizes pathways to recovery over enabling addiction.
Under federal law, maintaining drug-involved premises is already illegal, yet some jurisdictions have allowed these facilities to operate. With attempts to establish similar sites in Pennsylvania, Senator Tartaglione’s legislation provides clear, state-level protections against this practice.
“Our focus must be on expanding proven addiction treatment programs and giving people the resources they need to reclaim their lives,” Tartaglione said. “I have walked the road to recovery; I know firsthand that people can rebuild their lives with the right support.”
Senator Tartaglione urges her colleagues in the House of Representatives to pass this important legislation so that we can continue to work together on meaningful strategies to combat addiction across our Commonwealth.
