It is highly encouraging to see the City pursue the opening of four safe injection sites throughout our City to operate under a one-year pilot program in an attempt to implement innovative solutions to address the opioid epidemic and save the lives of New Yorkers. I have always been a proponent of harm reduction policies and programs because they are a more effective way of addressing addiction and the implementation of safe injection sites falls in line with that principle. The Overdose Prevention Centers proposed by the City will give New Yorkers struggling with addiction access to a professional that can monitor their drug use, help prevent them from dying from an overdose, counsel them on treatment options, and reduce their chances of getting infected with HIV or Hepatitis C. In the long run, this type of intervention will not only help the individual, but also our system by reducing the spread of life threatening conditions and alleviating the strain on our healthcare system by reducing hospitalizations and emergency visits. We have a responsibility to implement policies and programs that will truly help the many New Yorkers who are struggling with opioid addiction and have been impacted by this epidemic, regardless how controversial those programs and policies may be. The Mayor's plan takes us one step closer to providing these New Yorkers with direct access to the life saving services they need.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
Now where is this site going in the Bronx since the Manhattan site will be in Washington Heights Senator Rivera?
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