Facing the highest rate of deaths of any major city in the U.S. opioid epidemic, the city of Philadelphia is preparing to take drastic measures.
"Philadelphia, with the highest opioid death rate of any major American city, on Tuesday announced plans to encourage the opening of sites where people can inject drugs under medical supervision," reports Aubrey Whelan.
According to Whelan, an authorized safe injection site would put Philadelphia at the forefront of public health policy responding to the opioid epidemic. Canada cities have sanctioned injection sites. In the United States, Seattle is closest to opening a site. "Cities like San Francisco, New York, Ithaca and Denver have begun to seriously consider sites," according to Whelan. "A study in Baltimore found that the city would save $6 million on medical costs connected with overdoses by opening one site."
The city will still need to select locations for the sites, currently referred to as Comprehensive User Engagement Sites (CUES). According to city officials presents at a recent press conference announcing the new facilities, the CUES are only one part of what will become a large, coordinated effort to combat the opioid epidemic.
The article includes a lot more context about the legal and political controversies surrounding harm reduction practices.
FULL STORY: Safe-injection sites to fight opioid overdose deaths get green light from Philadelphia officials
The Messy Politics of Saving Lives from Drug Overdoses
Philadelphia was on the verge of approving a key harm reduction strategy to prevent fatal drug overdoses until the city council all but banned supervised injection sites, overriding a mayoral veto. A New York Times report explores the controversy.
'Supervised Injection Facilities'—Successful in Canada, Coming to the U.S.
Needle exchanges are still controversial in some parts of the country, so expect "supervised injection facilities" to be even more so.
Federal Government Intervenes to Halt Planned Supervised Injection Site in Philadelphia
Pennsylvania-based prosecutors and the Department of Justice in Washington are mounting a legal challenge to a proposed supervised injection site in the works in Philadelphia.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).
The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.
The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace
In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and "harrowing" close calls are a growing reality.
The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs
Thanks to one simple policy change less than five years ago, 65% of new cars in this Himalayan country are now electric.
DC Backpedals on Bike Lane Protection, Swaps Barriers for Paint
Citing aesthetic concerns, the city is removing the concrete barriers and flexposts that once separated Arizona Avenue cyclists from motor vehicles.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)