New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) recently announced plans to open four supervised injection sites where illegal drug users can get their fix with no fear of arrest while medical professionals stand by to prevent fatal overdoses.
The proposed Overdose Prevention Centers would be safe consumption spaces where addicts can self-administer pre-obtained narcotics, such as heroin, OxyContin, and other opioids. Trained healthcare staffers would not directly assist with injections, but would provide sterile injection supplies, advise users on safer injection practices, monitor their reactions to the drugs, and administer medications that could counteract overdoses. The centers would also provide access to a range of social services, such as connecting drug abusers with programs that might help them get clean.
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