Legal drug brothels in New York have already saved dozens of lives: how they work

In less than a month, the city's two overdose prevention centers (OPCs) have prevented at least 59 such cases. On average, three a day, which gives "promising data," the city authorities said. The first OPCs in the country opened on 30 November. They are located in East Harlem and Washington Heights in Manhattan and are operated by OnPoint NYC. Silive.

Since opening, these two establishments have been visited over 2000 times by almost 400 people.

City officials said it was time to take a step towards OPC. The spread of fentanyl on the streets is responsible for the record number of overdose deaths in five boroughs of the country and across the country.

More than 2000 people have died from drug overdose in New York in 2020, according to a press release. This is the highest number since recording began in 2000 and a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) project that killed more than 90000 people in the United States last year.

On the subject: Special centers opened in New York where drug addicts can inject

There have been 198 overdoses this year. 72 of them were fatal, according to preliminary data from District Attorney Mike McMahon's office.

City Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi said the 59 overdose prevention cases and the number of use cases "show how overdose prevention centers will reduce unnecessary suffering and prevent death."

According to the FilterMag report, the centers' staff eliminated:

• seven overdoses with naloxone;
• 19 overdoses - with the use of stimulants;
• opioid-related overdoses have been prevented with the help of others methods.

Since the city released the data, the centers have prevented further overdoses. And now their number exceeds 63.

Sam Rivera, chief executive of OnPointNYC, said the centers help people who are often not treated like human beings.

“People are going through such a deep trauma - it takes time to recover from the pain. For many, this is a very long process, ”Rivera said.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said "exhaustive research" shows how to protect the most vulnerable people. New Mayor Eric Adams said he supports the idea of ​​the centers.

There is a danger

Luc Nasta, CEO of Camelot, Staten island, said that it is necessary to mobilize all measures to prevent loss of life. But he is saddened that "we have deteriorated to such an extent that these are necessary measures."

“The emergence of injection sites in Manhattan is a memorial to our government's disregard for an adequate solution to drug abuse,” Nasta said.

Camelot has received two grants from the State's Office of Alcohol and Drug Abuse (OASAS). He received $ 1 million in 2015 and $ 750 in 2018. The grants will go to a residential facility with 35 treatment beds and the district's first treatment center for women.

Construction on any of the projects has not yet begun

Nasta expressed disappointment at the lack of urgency. Moreover, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has shown how quickly the government can mobilize resources when needed.

Despite the data, Borough officials continue to oppose the OPC in Staten Island

District Attorney Michael McMahon declined to comment on the data the city shared with the OPC. Instead, he referred to his previous comments on Advance / SILive.com.

There are over 100 OPCs in the world and there have never been any deaths.