Rhode Island is the first state to authorize these sites, aimed to help prevent overdoses.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE)- With Rhode Island becoming the first state in the country to authorize a 2-year-pilot program to establish supervised drug consumption sites, or overdose prevention sites; there’s now a mock exhibit in Providence to show residents how these centers will operate.
The exhibit is a collaboration between RICARES and the Brown University School of Public Health- located on 133 Mathewson Street in Providence.
WHY RHODE ISLAND?
In 2020, the Rhode Island Department of Health says there were 384 accidental overdose deaths in Rhode Island. Experts and advocates of these sites say this overdose number is only expected to go up.
According to the Addiction Center, Rhode Island has recently ranked the state with the 5th highest rate of drug overdoses in the country.
WHAT ARE OVERDOSE PREVENTION SITES?
Experts define overdose prevention sites as regulated facilities that allow people to use pre-obtained substances under the supervision of nurses and other professionals who provide non-judgemental care and lifesaving services.
WHERE/ WHEN COULD THESE SITES BE SEEN IN RHODE ISLAND?
RIDOH is in charge of developing the regulations (what staffing would look like, rules they would need to abide by, etc…) for these sites- and will be finalized by March 2022.
Once those regulations are solidified, then a site can apply to the DOH.
Short answer: It’s unknown where these sites will be because it is too early to tell, and the earliest these sites will come to Rhode Island is in March of 2022.
Experts with RICARES say they hope to see these sites eventually be placed in all of the opioid hotspots across the state; specifically like Providence or Woonsocket.
Massachusetts will hear a bill on September 17th, regarding a pilot program for safe injection sites.
WHAT OTHER COUNTRIES UTILIZE THESE SAFE CONSUMPTION SITES?
Experts say the first overdose prevention site was brought to Switzerland in 1986. There are over 120 of these sites in 10 countries.
These countries currently are Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Switzerland to utilize some form of these safe injections sites.
MORE INFORMATION:
Click here to read the full bill.
For more information on this exhibit and how it works, please visit the RICARES website.
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Supervised drug consumption sites to come to RI, exhibit opens to public to show how centers will work - WLNE-TV (ABC6)
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