These NYC centers allow hard drug use in-house. Nearly 5 years in, is it helping?
Summary
New York City has two supervised drug-use centers called overdose prevention centers (OPCs) where people can use drugs like heroin and crack safely with medical help nearby. These centers have helped prevent overdoses and offer health services, but some community members and politicians say the presence of these sites makes neighborhoods less safe.Key Facts
- The overdose prevention centers have been operating for nearly five years in New York City.
- They provide a supervised place for people to use drugs with clean needles and medical staff nearby.
- OnPoint NYC, one of the centers, has helped with over 2,100 overdose interventions without any deaths.
- More than 7,000 people have used OnPoint’s services more than 250,000 times since 2021.
- The centers also offer medical care, addiction treatment, and wellness services like massage and acupuncture.
- Some local residents and community leaders feel the centers attract drug dealers and increase visible drug use.
- A Republican candidate for New York attorney general criticized the centers as unsafe and illegal.
- The federal government does not support these centers, and federal law prohibits places that allow drug use.
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