Pandemic Puts Somerville Safe Drug Use Site On Hold

SOMERVILLE, MA — A safe injection site will not be established in Somerville this year, as health officials have shifted their focus to mitigating the effects of COVID-19. But that doesn't mean plans have been completely scrapped – the timeline has moved from late 2020 to mid-2021, WBUR reported.

Health and Human Services Director Doug Kress told WBUR "there's still a need" for such a site, as fatal overdoses have continued in Somerville. City officials said last year they wanted to open the state's first safe injection site for drug users, an idea that received pushback from Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling.

"Barring a change in the Justice Department's position, if Somerville opens one, federal enforcement will follow," Lelling said last year.

Safe injection sites operate in Canada and Europe, but none have opened in the United States so far. Despite overcoming a legal hurdle in U.S. District Court last fall, a nonprofit has not been able to find a location for its planned Philadelphia site.

Legislation is still pending in Massachusetts that would make it easier to open safe injection sites. Meanwhile, Somerville has allocated $20,000 to hire a consultant on the project.