Nov 30, 2021, 10:50am
The New York Times reported Tuesday that New York City will be the first city in the nation to approve supervised drug injection facilities.
It was (Getty).
Getty.
Users can bring their substances to the East Harlem and Washington Heights sites that already offer clean needles.
People who use at the facilities can be treated for addiction and for an overdose.
The sites will be run by two nonprofits that oversee the needle exchange programs.
The program, first suggested by Mayor Bill de Blasio, had been put on hold due to controversy about providing a place where people can openly inject illegal drugs, and concerns that the city could face federal prosecution.
de Blasio is considering a run for governor of New York.
The health commissioner of New York City told the Times that they felt a sense of urgency in opening overdose prevention centers.
100,302. The number of drug overdose deaths in the U.S. between April 2020 and April 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It was the first time deaths from a drug overdose exceeded 100,000. According to the CDC, more than 75,000 deaths were caused by the drug.
According to the Times, de Blasio told the providers that law enforcement wouldn't take action against them. Eric Adams said at the forum that he was in favor of the centers. San Francisco, Boston and Philadelphia are working to open similar facilities.
There is a structure called the Tangent.
Federal law forbids supervised injection centers. The nonprofit was sued by the Justice Department because they were willing to open a facility in Philadelphia. In October, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to take up a case involving the nonprofit Safehouse's plan for a supervised injection center in that state.
Supervised injection sites for drug users will open in New York City.
The U.S. set a record for drug overdose deaths.
De Blasio wants supervised injection sites.
De Blasio wants supervised injection sites to be fast-tracked. What is holding them back? (Gothamist)
