Rhode Island is planning the second overdose prevention site in the country, where individuals with substance abuse issues can come for food and showers, test drugs for deadly substances, get HIV and hepatitis C testing, as well as find support groups and addiction treatment.
Though existing safe injection sites, as they are also known, have shown success, many are opposed on the grounds that these sites may perpetuate addiction instead of treating it.
Pennsylvania state Sen. Christine Tartaglione of Philadelphia authored a bill to ban these sites, which passed the Senate with an overwhelming number of votes. She represents parts of the Kensington neighborhood in the city, a high volume area for opioid addiction. The bill still needs to be voted on by the House of Representatives.
“We need to prioritize sobriety, not just allow addiction to continue and spiral”” Ms. Tartaglione told the publication.
The only government-sanctioned safe injection site is in New York City, which has proven success. Similar sites exist in Canada, Australia and Portugal.
Proponents of these sites feel the opposition is overlooking the risk by ignoring how many die from drug overdoses. Addiction experts agree that these locations are effective in helping to reduce harm from substance abuse, according to the publication.
Colorado is another high-profile state that rebuffed overdose prevention center legislation. The state’s House passed the bill, but its Senate killed it.
Currently, there are approximately 200 overdose prevention sites in 14 countries around the world, according to the Drug Policy Alliance.
