The founder of a Seattle nonprofit that cleans up discarded drug paraphernalia distributed through city and county harm reduction programs says she was stunned to learn her organization is now under state investigation over how it handles those same supplies. Andrea Suarez is the founder of We Heart Seattle. She rallies volunteers to pick up and dispose of needles, smoking supplies such as pipes and foil, and other drug-use items distributed through King County "harm reduction" programs.
Critics argue the policies can enable continued drug use rather than moving people toward treatment and recovery. "One of the biggest advocacy work I have done is that I go to the needle exchange and I get what they call the 'party kit,' and I demonstrated that our King County 'Health' Department is handing out cookers and tourniquets and glass pipes and paraphernalia to do drugs," Suarez told Fox News Digital. "I was referring to this 'party kit' as a 'suicide kit' with very little, if no information on where to get medical detox." SEATTLE CLEANED UP FOR THE WORLD CUP BUT ONLY WHILE THE WORLD WAS WATCHING, COMMENTATOR SAYS Suarez has been working on her mission of cleaner streets, parks and playgrounds for seven years, and We Heart Seattle has logged more than 50,000 hours of volunteer service.
Founded in 2020 as a solo operation, Suarez has built an army of hundreds of volunteers over the past six-and-a-half years. The group is now facing a state workplace-safety investigation, which Suarez says is its first government probe. We Heart Seattle is under investigation by the Washington Department of Labor & Industries following a complaint alleging "improper handling and collection of hypodermic needles and fentanyl paraphernalia," according to documents sent to Suarez from the Washington Department of Labor & Industries and viewed by Fox News Digital.
SEATTLE MAYOR GRILLED ON PUBLIC SAFETY CRISIS AS RESIDENTS DEMAND ANSWERS Suarez denied wrongdoing and said the group uses gloves, grabbers and sharps-disposal procedures, while pointing to safety guidance posted on We Heart Seattle’s website. That plan includes guiding supporters on what to wear to protect themselves from potential hazards, including wearing long pants and sleeves and closed-toed boots. The website also provides guidance for volunteers to stay safe while picking up debris.
Suarez argued there is a double standard in the state scrutinizing how her group handles discarded drug-use supplies while local harm reduction programs distribute some of the same types of materials. SEATTLE MAYOR SAYS SOBRIETY WON'T BE REQUIRED AT NEW HOMELESS SHELTER "We have been out here for... going on seven years every day, every weekend we're out there picking up needles and trash. And for my 'thank you' letter from the government, it was this letter saying, 'You're under investigation for allegedly improperly handling this very equipment that they hand out with no instructions.'" Suarez said that after learning of the investigation, she visited a harm reduction site and asked for specific guidance on handling "fentanyl foil" and other dangerous drug supplies, but said staff did not provide her with such instructions.
The Washington Department of Labor & Industries told Fox News Digital that the investigation stems from a complaint made by someone outside of the organization. TAXPAYER-FUNDED 'METH MANSION' UNDER FIRE AS CRIME CONCERNS MOUNT AROUND HOMELESS CAMPUS Spokesman Matt Ross said inspections can take up to six months, and that once complete, the results are made available to the public. He said there's a related probe into a temporary staffing agency, but declined to provide specifics.
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