New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday that the Overdose Prevention Center (OPC) Services will open in the city. These sites are intended to reduce deaths from overdoses, a public health problem the country has been grappling with and which has seen a dramatic increase during the pandemic.
OPCs, also known as supervised injection or supervised drug use sites, are safe places where people who use drugs can receive clean needles, medical care and be connected to social services, as well as addiction treatment, according to the city. .
The OPCs will be an extension of existing services and will be located alongside previously established syringe service providers.
According to a report by NY Times, New York City will authorize two supervised drug use sites in Manhattan beginning Tuesday in the East Harlem and Washington Heights neighborhoods.
“New York City has led the nation’s battle against COVID-19, and the fight to keep our community safe doesn’t stop there. After a thorough study, we know the right way forward to protect the most vulnerable people in our city. And we will not hesitate to accept it, ”said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Overdose prevention centers are a safe and effective way to tackle the opioid crisis. I am proud to show the cities of this country that after decades of failure, it is possible to take a smarter approach. “
The announcement means that New York City will become the first city in the United States to open officially licensed injection sites. Other cities, including Philadelphia, have moved toward supervised injection but have yet to open sites amid public backlash from both residents and local lawmakers.
These services will be online at a critical time, according to the city, which reports that during 2020, more than 2,000 people died from a drug overdose in New York City, the highest number since reports began in 2000.
Data for the first quarter of 2021 shows that 596 deaths occurred in the Big Apple between January and March of this year. This represents the highest number of overdose deaths in a single quarter since reports began in 2000.
“The Overdose Prevention Centers can turn the tide in the fight against the opioid crisis, and New York City stands ready to lead the way,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Melanie Hartzog. “We have lost too much to rely on the same playbook. It is time to take bold action to help our most vulnerable neighbors and the communities they call home. “
An increase in overdose deaths is a reality that New York City does not face alone. Data from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics shows that there have been about 100,300 drug overdose deaths in the United States during the 12-month period ending April 2021. This marks a 28.5% increase from 78,056 deaths during the same period the previous year.
OPC services have been proven to prevent overdose deaths and are in use worldwide, according to the city, adding that there has never been an overdose death at any of these types of facilities.
“The national overdose epidemic is a five-alarm public health blaze and we have to address this crisis at the same time as our fight against COVID,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Dave A. Chokshi. “Giving people a safe and supportive space will save lives and bring people off the streets, improving the lives of everyone involved. Overdose prevention centers are a key part of broader harm reduction. “
A feasibility study from the Department of Health found that OPCs in New York City would save up to 130 lives a year. In addition to their goal of saving lives, OPCs benefit surrounding communities, city officials said, noting a reduction in public use of drugs and needle waste. Also, according to the city, other places with OPCs have not seen an increase in crime, even after years of hosting these facilities, according to the city.
The OPC locations will focus on the health needs of the communities and the depth of the program’s experience.
“As the opioid crisis continues to devastate New York and the death toll rises, I am relieved and grateful that New York City has taken the necessary step to open two Overdose Prevention Centers,” said the state senator. Gustavo Rivera, chairman of the New York Senate Health Committee in a statement. “These centers will be an effective tool to prevent overdose deaths, stop the spread of disease, and provide a path to recovery. They will also help address valid concerns some New Yorkers have regarding the increasing presence of substance use in our communities. streets and their impact on our communities. This is just a first step. I look forward to working with the Mayor to open overdose prevention centers in the areas with the highest number of overdose deaths, including The Bronx, and with the Governor to authorize them in the entire state of New York. “
– .
