New Research Finds Safe Injection Sites Not Linked to Crime

What's the story?

• Recent research contradicts claims that safe injection sites contribute to increased crime or public drug use. 
• Safe injection sites are facilities that provide a supervised environment for individuals to use injectable opioids. There are over 200 centers worldwide, and not a single death has been reported inside safe injection sites.
• A 2023 government-funded study by New York University and Brown University to assess if safe injection sites can prevent overdoses.

Safe injection sites and crime

• Research proved that crime rates around overdose prevention centers in New York did not rise more than in similar neighborhoods. Despite 83% fewer drug arrests near these sites, which aimed to avoid deterring individuals with addiction, crime rates remained comparable to other harm reduction sites without safe injection services.
• Additional research shows that prioritizing public health and harm reduction approaches over prohibition and law enforcement does not increase public drug use or crime rates.

Arguments for safe injection sites

• Proponents argue that safe injection sites save lives, reduce infectious diseases, aid individuals in reconnecting with society, and further harm reduction interventions.
• Safe injection sites are more effective and cost-efficient than law enforcement methods, increasing the likelihood of individuals seeking medical care and social services to quit drug use while combating the stigma that hinders help-seeking.

Arguments against safe injection sites

• In a 2018 John Hopkins study, only 29% of Americans supported the legalization of safe injection sites.
• Opponents claim these safe injection sites promote drug use and crime in communities. Some also argue for allocating funds to abstinence-based treatments over programs accommodating active drug use.
• In 2023, New York Governor Kathy Hochul also declined to allocate opioid litigation settlement funds for overdose prevention sites, contrary to the state board's recommendations.
• Hochul, questioning the efficiency of the sites, told reporters:

"We are engaging in harm reduction strategies. There's not only one. The ones that we're doing are proven to be successful but also legal."

What do you think? Do you support safe injecting sites?

-Laura Woods

(Image credit: Unsplash)