First Of Its Kind Injection Site Opens In Wash Heights: Report

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY — For the first time, two supervised injection sites opened Tuesday in the United States, and one of them is in Washington Heights, reports The New York Times.

City health officials told The New York Times that staff at the two sites would provide clean needles and administer naloxone to reverse overdoses and offer users options for addiction treatment. Officials added that the first-of-its-kind facility would save lives amid a devasting spike in opioid-related deaths.

The other supervised injection site is located at East 126th Street in East Harlem.

There are fewer details known about the Washington Heights site.

The nonprofit Washington Heights Corner Project is merging with New York Harm Reduction Educators to form OnPoint NYC — which will operate the two sites.

The Washington Heights CORNER Project already runs a needle exchange program in the neighborhood, and also offers free health support, HIV testing and treatment navigations, and naloxone training.

Unlike the Harlem location, the New York Times article does not specify where the Washington Heights supervised injection site is located.

Washington Heights CORNER Project is currently located at 500 West 180th Street, but it is unclear if this will also be the address for the new injection site in the neighborhood.

Washington Heights CORNER Project did not respond to multiple calls from Patch.

New York became the first U.S. city to officially authorize injection sites.

Dozens of injection sites have been operating in other countries for years, and some research suggests they have succeeded in reducing overdoses. Until now, the U.S. has not opened any such sites, though other cities have shown interest in them.

"The strategy is proven to save lives and is desperately needed at a moment when fatalities are rising fast," Council Member Mark Levine, who represents a portion of Washington Heights, tweeted out Tuesday morning.

Some Upper Manhattan community members raised concerns to The New York Times about the decision to open the two sites in two of the less affluent neighborhoods in Manhattan.

Still, the city contends that the Washington Heights and East Harlem sites will help address mounting complaints about open drug use and discarded needles littering neighborhood sidewalks and parks.

• Read More: Supervised Injection Site Opens In Harlem In Historic Move

"The national overdose epidemic is a five-alarm fire in public health, and we have to tackle this crisis concurrently with our COVID fight," Health Commissioner Dr. Dave A. Chokshi said in a statement. "Giving people a safe, supportive space will save lives and bring people in from the streets, improving life for everyone involved."

NY Times - Supervised Injection Sites for Drug Users to Open in New York City

Patch reporter Nick Garber contributed to this report.