Opinion: Overdose prevention sites can save lives and promote recovery. We must be willing to try them
The latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are simply staggering: there were more than 95,000 drug overdose deaths between February 2020 and February 2021, an all-time record. With thousands of Americans dying from preventable overdoses each year, it is clear that persistent, societal, and systemic failures are perpetuating pain and suffering among far too many people. Policymakers and public health officials must do more to prevent these deaths.
Recognizing that overdose prevention strategies are vital to save lives, the American Society of Addiction Medicine, which I currently lead as president, recently issued a public policy statement recommending that federal, state, and local leaders allow state- or locality-sanctioned pilot overdose prevention sites (OPS) to operate without fear of prosecution in communities where there is perceived need and local support by people who use drugs and other community members. The success of such test sites could lead to more widespread adoption of these life-saving facilities.
