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Supervised Consumption Sites
- Jessica Kwan
- Jun 30
- 2 min read
Supervised consumption sites (also known as safe injection sites or overdose prevention sites) are facilities for individuals to use pre-obtained drugs in the presence of trained medical professionals such as nurses, medical doctors, social workers and peer support workers. Other services available at the facilities include:
Clean drug use equipment (i.e., needles), and appropriate disposal receptacles
Drug-checking to ensure supply does not contain other more harmful substances
Emergency medical services in case of an overdose
Basic medical services such as wound care
Connections to wrap-around services such as mental health, rehabilitation, detox
Screening and testing of infectious diseases such as HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, hepatitis
The Case for SCS
The opioid crisis is one of the leading public health issues threatening communities across the world. In the United States, the death rate as a result of overdose increased more than 250% from 1999 to 2019. Subsequently, the COVID-19 pandemic saw another 30% increase in deaths from 2019 to 2020.
SCS is a harm reduction service that is proven to reduce the number of overdose deaths, improves public safety, reduces disease transmission and increases access and uptake of drug treatment programs.
One study conducted before the opening of a SCS in Vancouver Canada, overdose deaths accounted for 253 per 100 000 people. After the opening of the SCS, overdose deaths accounted for 165 per 100 000 people who lived within a 500 metres radius of the SCS. This means there was a decrease of 88 deaths per 100 000 people since the opening of the SCS. In Barcelona Spain, a SCS was linked to a 50% decrease in overdose deaths from 1991 to 2008.
Furthermore, SCS contribute to significant reductions in communicable diseases such as HIV and hepatitis as a result of reduced needle-sharing and use of clean and sterile equipment. Contrary to popular belief, SCS improves public safety as drug users have a designated safe place to use drugs whereas, without SCS, they report they would more likely be using and disposing of needles in public spaces. SCS also reduce the financial burden on the healthcare system by reducing hospitalizations related to skin and soft-tissue infections, emergency services related to overdoses and drug-use related infections and complications, and preventing HIV and hepatitis C. A cost-benefit analysis done in New York City showed a potential saving of close to $2 million in annual health care costs from opioid overdoses.
Conclusion
The opioid crisis is causing significant human and healthcare burdens, and projections show that things are only getting worse. In the absence of total abstinence from drugs and substance use, which is arguably impossible, we need to adopt a harm-reduction approach pioneered by public health professionals. This is the principle of supporting those who use substances to use in the safest manner and reducing the harms related to substance use. This is possible through supervised consumption sites.
There are many myths and misconceptions about SCS, which has unfortunately been heavily politicized, leading to many recent closures and clawbacks of funding. We must not be swayed by fear-mongering, but rather look at the evidence and advocate for more SCS programs and policies in our communities.
Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board
