There is a lot of debate about whether safe injection sites are, in fact, safe. Is this really the best way to go for those who struggle with addictions to heroin? Do they do more to damage good neighborhoods than help them? Is this really the way we want to be as a society? Aren’t we just telling people that it’s okay to keep doing what they do, and we’ll help them stay safe again and again?
There is a lot of debate about whether safe injection sites are, in fact, safe. Is this really the best way to go for those who struggle with addictions to heroin? Do they do more to damage good neighborhoods than help them? Is this really the way we want to be as a society? Aren’t we just telling people that it’s okay to keep doing what they do, and we’ll help them stay safe again and again?
It’s a controversy that will continue as long as addiction does, but that doesn’t mean that we should just avoid the topic altogether.
A lot can be learned by listening to both sides of the argument, and when we work to encourage communication, we might find that we can come to a better understanding of what will work, and what won’t in the war against drugs.
The Argument for Harm Reduction
On a practical level, harm reduction really makes sense. This is especially true if you’re closely linked to addiction through a loved one. More of us have addicted parents, siblings, children, and spouses than is fair. All of us who struggle along with our loved one’s fear losing them more than anything.
Why? Because once a loved one is lost to an overdose or illness such as HIV or Hepatitis, among the many other things that can kill an addict, the battle to help them change their lives is over. The war has been lost.
So, harm reduction makes sense to many people. Essentially, it’s keeping those struggling with addictions safe, so they can see another day to make the decision to overcome their addiction. Give them clean needles to ensure they don’t wind up with a disease that’s going to cost the taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars in care, and that will affect their future should they try to get clean.
Not only can harm reduction be an effective option for helping to ensure that those with addictions stay safe, but it’s also a great way to gently, and without judgement, encourage users to consider attending treatment, such as what you can find at heroin rehab facilities.
Most of us can agree that harm reduction, to some degree or other, is needed. It’s humane. Nobody wants to become addicted to something as devastating as heroin, and most of us simply feel badly for those who struggle with such an addiction.
However, when it comes to safe injection sites, the argument gets a little bit different for quite a few reasons.
Why Safe Injection Sites are a No-Go for Many
Before we jump to conclusions, we should understand that the goal of safe injection sites is to provide a place that is dry, warm, and clean for those who struggle with [most commonly] heroin addictions. However, they go a couple steps better, and offer clean needles, and medical supervision, so if a person does wind up overdosing, they can receive immediate medical attention.
They can be found around the world, from Canada, to Spain, to Norway, and Australia. However, as of yet, there are no safe injection sites in the United States. Until recently, no cities were actively exploring the option.
New York City may be the first in the country to offer such a facility, and city officials are actively exploring it as an option. For many, it’s a no-brainer, but for residents in the locations that are being considered, the worries of what it will do to the neighborhood are huge.
The trouble with a safe injection site, from a residential perspective, is that most of us who don’t struggle with addictions would rather not be faced with it day after day. We don’t necessarily want to see used syringes littering our sidewalks, and, sadly, there is no denying that there is often crime related to addictions.
Many fear drug turf-wars, and even shootings will increase. Others worry about their children, as a safe injection site could create a place for dealers to spend much of their time.
In 2016, one article about safe injection sites in Canada mentioned some reporting that they weren’t happy with the way that the neighborhood was turning out. This argument was brought up when it came to discussions about establishing safe injection sites in Toronto.
Sadly, residents in New York City feel pretty much the same concern and worry over what locations might be chosen, and how it will affect factors like safety for people in the neighborhood, and how it might affect local businesses and homes.
When it comes to whether safe injection sites should be legal in the United States, maybe it comes down to finding ways to make sure that the locations are carefully chosen and considered, and then taking a very cautious approach to the way that these facilities are run. When more than just avoiding overdose is put into play, though, it is possible that we will finally see some headway in getting those who struggle with addictions the help they really need.
Join the conversation!