In response to increasing incidence of hepatitis, HIV, and overdose death related to opioid and other drug use in America, the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD) has evaluated evidence-based interventions intended to address these intersecting epidemics, including Supervised Injection Facilities. As part of this work, NASTAD released Call to Action: Supervised Injection Facilities and Supervised Injection Facilities: Recommendations for Action for governmental public health agencies in support of Supervised Injection Facilities.

As the nation grapples with how to effectively respond to these epidemics, NASTAD urges policymakers, public health and safety leaders, and impacted communities to embrace a comprehensive approach to end these intersecting epidemics. As one element of a comprehensive strategy, NASTAD supports Supervised Injection Facilities as an important evidence-based intervention. These programs operate with legal sanction in 11 countries and number well over 100 worldwide.

Supervised Injection Facilities have been shown to:

• Reduce hepatitis and HIV transmission risks for people who inject drugs
• Link participants to testing, infectious disease treatment, medication-assisted treatment, and physical and behavioral health services
• Reduce overdose death and occurrence
• Improve injection practices and decrease soft-tissue, blood infections, and associated hospital costs
• Decrease public injection and improperly discarded injection materials
• Not lead to increases in drug use, frequency of injection, or levels of drug-related crime in communities in which they operate

For more information on the evidence surrounding Supervised Injection Facilities, please refer to the resources within NASTAD’s Recommendations for Action. Additionally, Project Inform is hosting a series of webinars beginning February 1 on Supervised Injection Facilities and we encourage anyone interested to participate.