Understanding the Possible Safe Injection Site in Philadelphia

A safe injection site is a legal, medically-supervised facility for the use of intravenous drugs. They provide a hygienic and secure environment where IV drug users can inject safely. These facilities do not sell or provide any illegal drugs; users bring their own drugs and administer them themselves.

There are a few different names for safe injection sites including:

• Overdose prevention centers
• Medically-supervised injection centers
• Supervised consumption services
• Fix rooms

Sites are staffed with medical personnel who provide clean supplies, oversee the injection, and clean up when users are done. Medical staff is also trained in overdose prevention and armed with naloxone, the overdose-reversing medication. They’re prepared to intervene if the need arises.

Safe injection sites don’t exist for the sole purpose of supervised drug use, though. The real goal of these facilities is to combat the fatality of drug addiction. Medical personnel is on hand to prevent users from an accidental overdose, the cause of most drug-related deaths. They’re truly designed to keep users alive long enough to find the help they need.

The safe injection site in Philadelphia is not the first overdose prevention facility in the world. Sites like these already exist and operate in Canada, Australia, and various countries throughout Europe. Supporters of safe injection sites explain the many benefits that result from their operation.

Sharing or using dirty hypodermic needles puts users at risk of contracting HIV and viral hepatitis. The sterile supplies offered at safe injection sites in Philadelphia eliminate the possibility of catching these infections.

Safe injection sites not only eliminate the possibility of death due to overdose but increase the chances that a user gets help. Facilities connect users with addiction treatment programs and other life-saving social services they might not usually consider or have access to.

The stigma associated with drug use, IV drug use, in particular, causes immense feelings of shame. Safe injection facilities remove the stigma for a moment which may encourage users to finally seek the help they need.

Safe injection sites remove drug use from public spaces like parks and bathrooms. They also reduce the dangerous waste that comes with public drug use, especially the improper disposal of syringes.

Alongside the benefits of safe injection sites come some negatives that must be addressed. Critics of Safehouse’s safe injection site in Philadelphia insist that the benefits do not outweigh the disadvantages.

Operating safe injection sites may place additional strain on government budgets. Critics insist these facilities are not with the financial investment considering the possible negative impact they have on the surrounding community.

Since users must bring their own drugs, safe injection sites may increase drug-related crime nearby. Dealers will want to position sellers in the area and it could lead to or encourage potential gang rivalries in the area.

All things considered, the most important question you probably have is, are safe injection sites effective? Regardless of both pros and cons, if they aren’t a helpful tool then there is no need for them. Why open a safe injection site in Philadelphia if it’s not an effective way to combat drug addiction?

Despite their preparedness to open a facility at the start of the year, COVID-19 derailed those plans. It didn’t do anything to derail the effects of drug addiction, though. Counties across the country saw rates of abuse and overdose skyrocket as shelter-in-place orders sprung up.

The COVID-19 had a similar effect on Philadelphia, too. Harm reduction advocates insist the pandemic revealed just how great the need for a safe injection site in Philadelphia is. “Every day, we are at risk of an overdose that may occur on the street that would not have occurred inside of a supervised injection facility,” explained Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner.

Safe injection sites keep people from accidentally overdosing while alone on the streets. It’s difficult to open a site under the current circumstances, though. Although they were approved in February, Safehouse likely will not open for the time being. A safe injection site in Philadelphia will, once again, have to wait.