New Research Finds Safe Injection Sites Not Linked to Crime

Need a "Maybe" on this one as it depends on how it's implemented. I'd prefer to see it as the 1st step in rehab where drug users are registered, and counseled to take the next step to commit to treatment including working out the logistics like funding, location, availability. 

Currently, overdose prevention centers (OPC) exist in 16 developed countries including the US. In the U.S. sites are privately funded, and drug users bring there own drugs but the centers provide supplies like clean needles for intervenors drugs, inhalers for inhaled drugs, naloxone for overdoses and fentanyl test strips to check for contamination.

NIH has a research network providing universities grants to study OPCs near the universities, but does not fund OPCs.

"Overdose prevention centers (OPCs) are a successful harm‐​reduction strategy that has been saving lives in 16 developed countries—including the United States"

"OPCs, also known as safe consumption sites or drug consumption rooms, began in Europe in the mid‐​1980s. Governments and harm‐​reduction organizations now operate OPCs in much of Europe, Canada, Mexico, and Australia."

"Most facilities require users to spend time in “chill‐​out rooms” to allow the drug’s initial effects to subside so the user is less impaired when leaving the site. OPCs often provide showers and other facilities and connect users to social services.12 Many clients respond to the nonjudgmental, caring atmosphere of safe consumption sites by seeking treatment and other social services."

"National Institutes of Health has established a research network that will test harm reduction strategies in different community settings to inform efforts to help save lives. The harm reduction research network’s efforts build on existing harm reduction research, and represent the largest pool of funding from NIH to date to study harm reduction strategies to address overdose deaths."

"NIH is not providing funds for the purchase of pipes, syringes or needles."

https://nida.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/2022/12/nih-launches-harm-reduction-research-network-to-prevent-overdose-fatalities

https://www.cato.org/briefing-paper/overdose-prevention-centers-successful-strategy-preventing-death-disease

Drug addiction is an illness, not a crime. We need to do all we can to ensure those with this illness have access to effective and affordable care to get over their illness, which might include safe injection sites until they are ready to start treatment to get over their illness.

The refusal to allow safe injection sites is just more cruelty rooted in racism and religious ideology, it is not compassionate and not Christian. 

Take religion out of healthcare and public policy and provide methods for protecting and treating those with substance abuse illnesses.

So called safe sites only enable and encourage the addict. If makes it seem okay to shoot up because they are in a safe space. These people need help, not safe spaces to do bad things. 

this is proven model that helps people get clean, stay out of jail, and lowers the risk of overdose, and disease.

Prison is worse then the addition. the drug war has failed. show compassion to your fellow human beings.

I need more data. In my opinion, it would not be a bad thing to pair injection sites with addiction help/resources.& hopefully someone is making sure no one is operating a vehicle after injecting opioids.

Is this a bring your own situation? Are prescriptions involved? Street drugs? Who makes sure fentanyl isn't in the mix? Who pays for this? Where do you get the already stretched medical personnel?

I have lots of questions. 

Let's help addicts get clean, not support their self-destruction. 

Much safer and promotes health care principles.

Safe injection sites will help to get the mess off the streets and allow for medical treatment when necessary. We will not stop the addicts so we should try to help and control their problem. Clean needles and supply the dope they need and want. This should deter theft and possibly allow some of them to actually work for their dope. Cleaning streets would be nice.

I think we need to address the general public first. I sense that even on this platform people are understandably responding out of fear and ignorance.

Some years ago I went into Manhattan to meet a friend for dinner in the area known as NoMad. On our way back we wound up passing by huge line of people. Because the people looked grungy, my general sense was that the people were there for some kind of social service. My friend said the facility was a Methadone Clinic.

Seeing such a large number of people who were addicted produced a very visceral feeling. Honestly, it creeped me out. So, yeah, I get the part of this that makes people uncomfortable.

Now combine that with ignorance and an assortment of intransigent prejudices and we have a social problem that goes far beyond helping our fellow citizen addicted to drugs.

My go to is to acquire information,  but over the years I've learned to accept that others have very different reactions to difficult issues and situationd and not many are healthy or helpful.

Evidently, the most common pharmacological treatments for heroin addiction are (1) Methadone, a slow-acting opioid agonist that is taken orally to dampen the “high” that occurs with other routes of administration while preventing withdrawal symptoms. (2) Buprenorphine a partial opioid agonist that relieves drug cravings without producing the “high” or dangerous side effects of other opioids, and (3) Naltrexone an opioid antagonist that blocks the receptor and interferes with the rewarding effects of opioids.

As presented in the lede, there is evidence to suggest that safe injection sites can be an effective harm reduction strategy for people with opioid addiction. For example, a systematic review of studies on safe injection sites found that they (a) reduce overdose morbidity and mortality, (b) improve injection safety behaviors, (c) expand access to addiction treatment, and (d) do not increase crime or public nuisance.

In May 2023, the U.S. government announced that it will fund a large study to measure whether overdoses can be prevented by safe injection sites.

I support these efforts, mindful of the various burdens this places on given communities.

It's about health care.

A definite maybe for me.  Saving lives is in itself paramount important.  At the same time, addressing mental health is equally important.   Are there financial resources to address both?  There are, but I feel they're not contributing enough.  

There are so many drug addicts.  I am sorry to say I do have a few friends who are addicted - not just to needles but others like alcoholic, cocaine, etc.  A couple died from alcholism.  

So what is the solution?  I don't know.  Education begins at early age and begin there?    

We'll never get drug addicts to just up & quit. Might as well make things as safe as possible. 

It's a lot safer and better than on the street shooting-up, plus you have med. personnel who can discuss treatment with them which ain't going to happen on the street.  While, I don't condone drug use, it is a reality for many and as such we should provide whatever we can to make it safer while encouraging treatment.