"Rethinking Addiction Solutions: The Need for Prevention Over Safe Injection Sites"

The article below is written by Mr. Percy Menzies in a response to this article https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/dar.13921

We have been told rather emphatically that one way to reduce overdose deaths is opening safe injection sites where people can bring their own drugs and inject the drugs under the watchful eyes of staff. We are told many countries including Switzerland and Australia have opened such sites and more are being planned. We are also told that many more informal and illegal sites are operating in many countries including the US.

Will these safe injection sites end the overdose problem, I don’t think so. The enclosed paper is not so encouraging. Opening such sites may attract the attention of the media but it is unlikely to have an impact on the problem.

We need to open safe prevention sites. What would such a site look like? These sites should offer low barrier access to medications like buprenorphine. Patients should be able to access naltrexone tablets as a preventative measure against relapse to opioid use and for alcoholism. Patients should be able to come to such centers and obtain information on treatment, housing and watch videos on the various medications approved for the treatment and prevention of opioid addiction and alcoholism. Patients should be assisted in signing up for Medicaid and other insurance programs; make appointments for treatment and other services; pick up drug testing kits and Narcan. A lot more can be done at such centers to give patients a chance to break free from the shackles of addiction.