WASHINGTON — As city leaders vow to crack down on synthetic drugs, D.C.’s largest homeless shelter is dealing with repeated overdoses outside the building.
Four people near the Community for Creative Non-Violence were taken to the hospital Tuesday after apparently overdosing on synthetic drugs. Earlier this month, seven were treated for symptoms related to an overdose.
“We’ve been dealing with this for like two to three years,” says John Cleveland, a case manager at the shelter.
According to Cleveland, the synthetic drug users don’t even live at the Community for Creative Non-Violence, but they do gather around the building.
“Remember back in the ’80s when crack came on the scene? That’s how bad it’s getting. It’s like history is repeating itself with another type of drug.”
This week, Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy Lanier and Mayor Muriel Bowser announced a new initiative targeting distributors of synthetic drugs.
