Supervised injection sites (aka “safe injection sites” or SIFs “safe injection facilities”) provide a safe place where addicts can minimize the risk of death and disease from dirty needle use and overdose by providing injection drug users clean needles, a supervised and safe place to inject, and safe disposal of used needles. Could Portland Oregon benefit from such sites? Currently, there are none.

Supervised-injection sites are controversial. Many people fear that such sites will encourage or prolong intravenous drug addictions by enabling addicts. Many neighbors of proposed sites are concerned about the increase traffic in and loitering by drug addicts. Counties and cities might also be concerned about the potential legal issues and liabilities of providing a dedicated place for controlled substances to be unlawfully used or abused. But supporters point to studies of injection sites that show such sites reduce deaths from overdoses, reduce the spread of HIV and hepatitis C infections in the community (infections which are often spread by shared needles), reduce ER visits (and related costs) by addicts suffering from overdoses, reduce the burden on law enforcement, and reduce the littering of used needles in parks and public places.

Currently, the only safe injection site in North America is Vancouver’s Insite, located in Vancouver, B.C. A ten-year study of Insite shows that it’s been rather successful. The cities of Seattle, Baltimore, and New York have shown interest in the idea, but still haven’t opened facilities. Forbes reports that– of the 98 safe injection sites in 66 cities and 10 countries around the world– none are in the United States.