Ahead of the global observance of International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, a U.S. Congresswoman from New Jersey has emerged as a leading voice advocating for safe locations to consume drugs.
These safe consumption sites or overdose prevention centers (OPCs) are being pushed as a transition from harsh, punitive drug strategies to ones that focus on public health. During a webinar held by the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) on Monday, the congresswoman and other people in support of the cause advocated for the role and importance of OPCs for communities.
These locations, referred to as OPCs, are safe havens where individuals can safely use their personal drugs under the supervision of professional staff. Supporters, such as Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), claim that “OPCs save lives. They serve as safe spaces for individuals grappling with addiction problems. If they desire help, they can receive it here. OPCs also keep our neighborhoods safer by minimizing drug use in public spaces”, Coleman stated during the Monday webinar.
The advocacy for OPCs happens during the Overdose Prevention Centers’ National Solidarity Week, a week-long series of nationwide events organized by the DPA.
The series of events will launch on August 25 and conclude on International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31. The events, scheduled to take place in around a dozen states, will encompass community outreach programs, educational forums, marches, and various other activities aimed at boosting awareness.
The webinar presenters also sought to dispel certain misconceptions pertaining to the operation of OPCs.
Laura Thomas, the Senior Director of HIV and harm reduction policy at the San Francisco Aids Foundation, denied the prevalent misinformation regarding exposure to drugs like fentanyl, emphasizing that “it’s simply not possible to do that.”
OPCs could either be permanent establishments or temporary mobile services. As proposed by epidemiology professor Brandon Marshall from Brown University, they could also be integrated with existing health services or be hospital-based. Marshall spoke highly of OPCs, drawing attention to their efficacy in leading drug users towards treatment over time. He asserted that “the more frequently someone uses an OPC, the more likely they are to enter substance use disorder treatment.”
The pathway to OPC reform could be spearheaded by individual states and local governments, and their activities could catalyze federal level changes, according to Kellen Russoniello, DPA’s Director of Public Health.
Federal support, he suggests, may be triggered by congressional acts, Justice Department notices, or even a budget rider to halt federal enforcement actions against OPCs.
Regardless of the inconsistencies in the federal government’s stance on OPCs, as noted by Congressional researchers, there is still ongoing support for these facilities. The director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) advocates for examining “all possible options including safe consumption sites, to curb the increasing overdose fatalities.”.