The nation’s first supervised injection sites, where substance users can inject drugs in a safe setting, have opened in New York City—signaling what could become a broader trend as drug overdose deaths soar to record levels. The privately-run sites in New York had been operating as needle exchange facilities, but will now expand to also include the administration of overdose reversal drugs, and have medical personnel on hand, as well as offer information and options for addiction treatment. City officials say the two sites are in response to staggering increases in overdose fatalities: there were 600 overdose deaths in the first three months of 2021.
Many cities including San Francisco, Boston, and Seattle have tried to open such sites, which are common in Europe and elsewhere, to address the public health crisis of addiction. But they have routinely faced obstacles over the legal and moral issues of effectively sanctioning illegal drug use. The mayor’s office and the Manhattan district attorney have indicated that no legal action would be taken to close the supervised sites. Substance users bring their own drugs to the facility, raising concerns among local residents about safety and drug use in their communities.
However, the most controversial aspect of supervised sites—part of harm-reduction programs—is that they don’t do enough to engage with users to enter effective treatment programs. After saving a life, addicts simply return to the streets and an endless cycle of drug use. While harm reduction is a critical component of addiction services, it is not a one-stop solution to a drug and overdose crisis that has led to the deaths of more than 100,000 Americans in the 12-month period that ended in April—a record number. Opening harm reduction facilities must take place alongside the expansion of treatment and easing access to effective services for anyone struggling with substance use.