Are there safe injection sites in San Francisco?

Are there safe injection sites in San Francisco?

Safe injection sites are San Francisco’s answer to rising overdose deaths. Mayor London Breed made it one of her campaign promises to open these facilities, which are shown to reduce the spread of HIV infections and prevent fatal overdoses where they operate in other countries.

Are there safe injection sites in the US?

Supervised injection sites are not currently legal everywhere. In the United States, as of July 2018, there are at least thirteen proposed sites seeking approval, including in New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, Denver, Vermont, and Delaware.

Who benefits from safe injection sites?

Nevertheless, an impressive body of research, going back a number of years, has shown that safe injection sites offer important benefits to the community:

• Decreased spread of HIV and hepatitis C2
• Fewer drug-overdose deaths and hospitalizations3
• Improved understanding among users of addiction’s causes and treatment.

What is a supervised consumption site?

Supervised consumption sites and services save lives and benefit communities. They provide a safe, clean space for people to bring their own drugs to use, in the presence of trained staff. This prevents accidental overdoses and reduces the spread of infectious diseases, such as HIV.

What are the cons of safe injection sites?

WHAT ARE THE CONS OF SAFE INJECTION SITES? They may encourage drug use: One popular argument opposing safe injection sites is that they encourage drug abuse by not reporting the use of illegal drugs like heroin to law enforcement.

Are injections safe?

What are the risks associated with injections? Bloodborne diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS can be transmitted through unsafe injection practices, including overuse and more dangerously reuse of injection equipment.

What Do safe injection sites do?

Safe injection sites are facilities where people can use clean needles to inject drugs under the supervision of medical personnel, who can revive them in case of an overdose. Site users also have access to wound care, HIV education and referral to addiction treatment.

What is the purpose of a safe injection site?

The benefits to offering supervised injection sites include: Reduces number of overdose deaths. Provide a safe, clean, and secure place for users to inject while reducing the visibility of drug consumption on the street.

Do safe injection sites reduce addiction?

Opponents say safe injection sites will encourage addiction and discourage treatment, despite mounting evidence to the contrary. In Seattle and King County, Washington, opponents mobilized a ballot initiative against the creation of safe consumption facilities that was eventually struck down by a federal judge.

Are there any safe injection sites in the US?

There are about 100 different safe injection sites operating worldwide and they have been a success in Canada. As of January 2018, just a few cities in the U.S. allow them (Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle) but others are considering it. 1,2.

Are there supervised injection sites in San Francisco?

Two years ago, San Francisco’s former Public Health Director Barbara Garcia promised to open at least two supervised injection sites in the city by August 2018, with four additional centers opening over the next year.

How can safe injection sites increase referrals to rehab?

For example, one 2016 cost-benefit analysis found that the city of San Francisco could save about $3.5 million annually by opening a safe injection site. 10 How Can Safe Injection Sites Increase Referrals to Rehab?

Which is the oldest safe injection site in Canada?

Canada has the oldest safe injection site in North America, Insite, which has been in operation since 2003. Insite has not experienced one overdose in the entire 15-year period they have been in operation.