Safe injection sites: Inside America’s first supervised drug-injection site

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. This small room at the back of a former needle exchange in east Harlem is the nation’s first sanctioned supervised consumption site — a place where drug users can consume safely and without fear of arrest. Bill de Blasio authorised the sites in one of his last acts as mayor of New York City, calling them “a safe and effective way to address the opioid crisis.” The city’s new mayor, Eric Adams, has also expressed his support for the programme. “Our sites acknowledge that their lives have value and the entire service continuum that we’re trying to build acknowledges that their lives have value.” As part of that effort, the centre offers a range of services beyond the supervised injection room. “I’m very fond of saying the least interesting thing that happens in this room is the actual drug consumption,” says Ms See.