OPCs supported in grassroots ‘virtual press briefing’

Last month, harm reduction experts, politicians, and academics joined to call for overdose prevention centers (OPCs) in a “virtual press conference” hosted by the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA). “As we have seen here today, the movement to expand OPCs is strong and gaining even more momentum across the country,” said Kellen Russoniello, DPA's director of public health, on Aug. 27. “We know we cannot wait any longer. Our community members, our friends, our families continue to die while policymakers fail to support proven public health interventions. It is not acceptable to let stigma, fear mongering and politics continue to prevent the approaches that will save our loved ones. Every day that our elected leaders delay action on evidence‐based solutions to the overdose crisis, more lives are needlessly lost. We need decisive action in support of OPCs now.” OPCs, also known as safe consumption sites, are places where drug users can go to inject or otherwise self‐administer their drugs, and be rescued if they overdose. They can also get many other services there, but there are only a handful operating in the United States.