New York City to Allow America's First Supervised Injection Site for Illegal Drugs Legacy Healing Center Responds

Cherry Hill, NJ - In a first, New York City has announced it will allow a supervised injection site for IV drug users as the city moves to improve its harm reduction programs. The policy change is due in large part to soaring overdose death rates as the opioid crisis surges on across the US.

The site was initiated under former New York City mayor Bill de Blasio who said, “After exhaustive [studies], we know the right path forward to protect the most vulnerable people in our city. Overdose prevention centers are a safe and effective way to address the opioid crisis.”

In 2020, New York City lost more than 2,000 people to fatal drug overdoses. The NYC Health Department suggests that a supervised injection site in the city will help to reduce overdose deaths by almost 10 percent at a minimum.

As part of an overall harm reduction strategy, supervised injection sites provide people suffering from substance use disorder, especially opioid use disorder, a safe space to inject with clean needles and a link to addiction treatment programs so that they can more easily access those resources. Should an overdose occur in an injection site, staff are ready to respond immediately with life-saving medications like Narcan. The safe needles used to inject drugs and the ability to dispose of them properly also help to prevent the spread of life-threatening diseases such as HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis.

As New York City moves to embrace harm reduction programs, the US is likely to see other states adopt supervised injection sites to reduce overdose, prevent the spread of diseases, and help people find the help they need to overcome addiction.

Legacy Healing Center, an addiction treatment center with locations in Cherry Hill New Jersey and South Florida, serves residents of New York City struggling with substance use disorder. They welcome the use of proven harm reduction programs that save lives and give people easier access to effective addiction treatment. David Levin, Chief Clinical Officer at Legacy Healing Center, said, “Harm reduction programs will help to save lives now while also making it easier to support those suffering from substance use disorder through addiction treatment programs.”

The best way to prevent a fatal drug overdose remains drug addiction treatment, and harm reduction programs will aid in providing people with a lifeline to treatment. Legacy Healing Center is ready to help people suffering from substance use disorder by treating the underlying causes of addiction with holistic treatment programs.

Anyone struggling with heroin addiction, substance abuse or addiction, or concerned about a loved one, can speak with a treatment specialist at any time by calling (888) 534-2295. More information can be found at www.legacyhealing.com.