Arya Pelletier and her mother, Dita Bhargava, of Greenwich, would like Connecticut to establish overdose prevention centers – popularly known known as safe injection sites – where people who use drugs would be able to do so under medical supervision.

Their immediate family member, 26-year-old Alec Pelletier, died of an overdose in 2018. They believe if he had a place to go where he was not judged and could seek help “in his moment of despair” – he would still be alive today.

But state lawmakers struck down a provision on Wednesday that would have allowed for the creation of safe injection sites. This happened after Gov. Ned Lamont vowed to veto a bill continuing it if the provision were not removed from the measure.

"We are not discouraged and we plan to keep pushing for the creation of overdose prevention centers," said Arya Pelletier.

The family members say overdose deaths in Canada in areas surrounding safe injection sites dropped by 35%.