New York will open three new centers where drug addicts will inject under the supervision of doctors

By 2025, New York plans to open five places for drug addicts, where they can “safely inject”. At the same time, the state has a record number of drug overdoses. New York Post.

Mayor Eric Adams' proposal calls for the creation of three such points. Drug addicts will be able to bring their drugs there and use clean injection needles under the supervision of health professionals.

It's part of the Mayor's multi-pronged plan to combat the mental health crisis and rising overdose deaths.

“We must intensify our efforts to prevent fatal overdoses. And provide treatment to people who need it. This plan should reduce overdose deaths in New York by 15% by 2025,” Adams said.

“We are going to increase the availability of overdose drugs. Especially in high risk areas. Provide more drugs to treat opioid disorder, as well as clean syringes and other safety equipment. And reduce the risk of overdose by expanding the distribution of fentanyl test strips that will alert consumers to dangerous levels of the drug before it's too late,” the mayor added.

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If the City Hall's plan is approved, three new "safe injection" centers will be added to two existing ones - New York Harm Reduction Educators on East 126th Street in Harlem and Washington Heights's CORNER Project on West 180th Street. They opened under former mayor Bill de Blasio, a proponent of relaxing drug laws.

However, authorized drug use at these “safe injection” centers is illegal in New York State and at the federal level. Therefore, city centers will not receive funding from the state or from Washington, which means that all costs will fall on the shoulders of New York City taxpayers.

The mayor's idea of ​​opening new centers has angered many local officials. They argue that such places are more harmful to drug addicts than conducive to recovery.

The mayor's office will also add a new telemedicine and suicide prevention program for high school students. It will also expand the program to have more medical professionals answer mental health emergencies.

Overdose deaths in state hit record high, mostly due to fentanyl

And New York City accounts for the most deaths.

Last month, the city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene published report, which reports 2 overdose deaths in 668 (2021% of them due to fentanyl). A year earlier there were 80.