Last year, more than 100,000 people in the US lost their lives due to overdose. This dire statistic highlights the continuous rising problem of overdose and indicates that action should be taken to try and tackle rising drug deaths. While it is nearly impossible to eradicate drug use across the US, it is possible to provide safe and controlled spaces and access to substance abuse treatment to reduce the risk of overdose. Setting up supervised injection facilities can provide someone who injects illicit substances with an environment to do so that is safe and clean.
What are Safe Injection Sites?
Safe injection sites also known as supervised injection facilities are safe and hygienic places where drug users can engage in illicit substance use with the aim of preventing an overdose. These facilities are in a controlled environment, monitored by health professionals, so there is help on hand if an overdose occurs.
Aside from providing essential medical care in the event of an overdose, medical professionals in safe injection sites are often available to provide mental health support and other forms of required medical attention.
Many people who suffer from opioid addiction may find themselves injecting drugs in unsafe locations, such as public bathrooms, tunnels, or houses belonging to other users. Many of these locations will not be monitored and if an overdose were to occur, help might not be found. Therefore, an injection site will provide users with the option of a safe space so they don’t feel forced to use potentially dangerous locations.
Safe injection sites will also allow users to have contact with health care professionals who can guide them on ways to overcome drug dependency and offer medical advice on their addiction.
Safe Injection Sites Combating Overdose
Safe injection sites are equipped for combating the effects of an overdose by using naloxone. Naloxone is a medicine that can be administered as an injection or nasal spray, it rapidly reverses the effects of an opioid overdose by attaching to opioid receptors and blocking the effects of the drug. All staff in safe injection sites carry naloxone and are trained on how to administer it correctly, so if they notice someone experiencing an overdose they will be able to intervene and provide life-saving treatment.
Fentanyl test strips will also be supplied in most safe injection sites. These are designed to test for fentanyl – a powerful and synthetic opioid which can contaminate other drugs. Fentanyl has been linked to multiple deaths due to overdose. Sufficient testing within safe sites can help to avoid the occurrence of an overdose.
Services Provided in Safe Injection Sites
Supervised injection facilities provide several care-focused services. As well as providing room for drug consumption they also supply users with things such as:
Benefits of Safe Injection Sites
There are many benefits of safe injections sites, the main benefit is the reduced risk of overdose, however, other benefits also include:
Reducing The Spread of Disease and Infection
Often, when drug users have no safe space to use, they will find alternative facilities to accommodate their drug habits. It is likely that wherever this will be will not be either safe or sanitary. Using dirty needles can lead to the risk of contracting HIV, Hepatitis, or AIDS. If a syringe has been used before, it may still contain traces of blood. HIV can survive in a used syringe for up to 42 days depending on the temperature that the syringe is kept in.
If HIV is not controlled it could become life-threatening.
Equally, there is a 1 in 50 chance of contracting hepatitis which is another serious condition that requires medical attention.
Since safe injection sites are monitored by health care professionals, ensuring there is minimal risk of disease spreading.
This can also limit the risk of disease to the wider public by targeting the spread at the source.
Increasing Numbers of Safe Injection Sites
Over recent years safe injection sites across the US were limited. However, with recent statistics showing their value to both users and the wider community, they are now being rolled out more widely across the US. Not only do they provide a safe place for users, but they ultimately help to reduce the chance of overdose.
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