The people we are concerned about are those who do not have the support of their profession in responding to the distress of users who do not want to die but simply want to alleviate their suffering. We work with other professionals including social workers and psychologists, but outreach workers are mainly the ones in direct contact with users on the street. It is thanks to the trust that we have been able to build with them that they bring in residue on a daily basis so that we can analyze it and share what we learn right away. That is absolutely vital to prevent deaths and overdoses.
In other professional settings, even those where physicians work, people are afraid of being caught with these substances and arrested. What we want to see is recognition and protection for professionals who work with drug users, not just for physicians. They need that protection, even if it's just through good Samaritan legislation, for example.