Three Denver physicians, all of whom work with people who use illicit substances, testified that no evidence exists indicating that incarceration and mandatory treatment work to slow drug use and overdoses. They argued that the public health measures in the bill, including more money for Naloxone and fentanyl test strips, don't outweigh the damage they said tougher penalties, if adopted, would do.
Josh Barocas [visiting associate professor of medicine, Division of Internal Medicine] of the CU Medical School said criminalization "doesn't work" and that "the best scientific evidence doesn't support it."