Understanding the Drug Epidemic

The Role of Safe Injection Facilities in Harm Reduction

Abstract

Opioid overdose rates have seen substantially elevated numbers globally since its recognition as a public health crisis in the 1990s. Throughout its history as a public health issue, activists have strived for change with notably renewed calls for action in recent years. This argumentative essay will discuss the implementation of safe injection facilities (SIFs) as one evidence-based, yet controversial solution. SIFs may provide resources to not only prevent overdose deaths but additionally offer holistic care that addresses both physical and emotional aspects of addiction. This is achieved by giving people who inject drugs (PWID) access to a wide variety of support, such as nurses, peer support workers, and mental health professionals. Furthermore, SIFs promote harm reduction strategies to PWID and help address any gaps in drug-use knowledge that may exist and lead to harmful practices. Contrary to misconceptions, SIFs are also a more cost-efficient way of increasing safety in neighborhoods, with studies showing a decrease in discarded syringes and crime rates while saving millions of dollars per year in drug-related medical costs. Moreover, SIF implementation is rooted in the community, bringing together many individuals to support the drug epidemic cause, such as peer support workers and the local police force. The British Columbia Coroners Service found that 79% of those who died from overdose had contact with health services in the year preceding death, indicating a problem with the medical systems available to PWID, and calling attention to harm-reduction models such as SIFs.