What Safe Consumption Sites Mean For Massachusetts

The opioid epidemic has affected Americans for decades, including people in Massachusetts, where there were an estimated 2,357 opioid-related deaths in 2022.

In response, the city of Somerville approved funding to set up the greater Boston area’s first safe consumption site (SCS).

What Are Safe Consumption Sites?

SCSs are places where individuals can use illicit substances under the supervision of trained staff that provide overdose prevention and other forms of harm reduction.

SCSs have three main goals, including:

• to reduce the physical harm associated with drug use for the individual and decrease overdose deaths and disease from unsafe practices
• to reduce the social harms of drug use, including decreasing drug-related crime and decreasing the rates of public drug use
• to create a more cost-effective alternative to zero-tolerance policies by focusing on harm reduction

Studies have shown that safe consumption sites have contributed to fewer overdose deaths, 67% fewer ambulance calls for treating overdoses, and decreased HIV infections.

The Debate Over Safe Consumption Sites In Massachusetts

The debate over safe injection sites in Massachusetts focuses on how people feel that we should confront the opioid crisis and how it affects public health.

Benefits

There are several benefits of supervised consumption sites.

When supervised injection sites are appropriately established, they:

• reduce the risk of fatal overdoses because people are not using alone.
• connect drug users to social services such as employment assistance, housing, and food banks.
• provide people with health care and treatment, including access to life-saving naloxone.
• reduce public drug consumption of illegal drugs, and reduce discarded drug paraphernalia.
• reduce the spread of drug-related diseases such as HIV.
• reduce the strain on emergency medical services
• provide safe injection facilities where people can connect with staff and peers to moderate drug use and encourage them to pursue treatment.

Supervised injection facilities provide essential public health, social, mental health, and addiction treatment services.

Concerns

According to the U.S. Attorney General, there are a variety of common arguments against safe consumption sites, including the argument that they violate federal law.

Other common concerns are that SCSs will increase crime rates in the area, support criminal drug dealers, or encourage drug use, which may result in opioid-related overdose deaths.

There is also a concern that SCSs may endanger surrounding municipalities by attracting drug traffickers to the area and, therefore, increase violent crime, according to law enforcement.

The Introduction Of Safe Consumption Sites In Massachusetts

The City of Somerville is exploring opening a local supervised consumption site to address the overdose crisis.

In 2021, the city conducted an assessment that recommended that at least one SCS be created in Somerville that included support services and harm reduction strategies.

In 2022, the city contracted Fenway Health to develop a design, explore locations, and engage the community.

Fenway Health is a community health center which provides overdose prevention, health services, and harm reduction to drug users.

The Intersection Of Harm Reduction And Treatment

Harm reduction services and substance abuse treatment are both essential parts of strategies to mitigate the harms of overdose and drug use.

Harm reduction activities may be integrated into a comprehensive, person-centered care program that includes treatment services to meet the needs of the community where the program is held.

Overdose prevention centers and providers who practice harm reduction incorporate various strategies to meet people where they are and on their terms.

They may serve as a pathway to additional health and social services, including drug or alcohol treatment and prevention services.

Addiction Treatment At Spring Hill Recovery Center

Spring Hill Recovery Center is a retreat-style rehabilitation program that offers medical, clinical, and psychiatric care for substance abuse and comorbid mental health disorders.

Spring Hill offers residential treatment, including relapse prevention and harm reduction, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), psychoeducation, and more evidence-based therapies.

We offer one-on-one therapy sessions, group therapy sessions, family education, outdoor activities, case management, and aftercare plans.

Ask How Spring Hill Can Help You Today

If you or a loved one are seeking treatment for a substance use disorder, we can help. Contact Spring Hill Recovery Center today to learn about our treatment programs.