Supervised Injection Facilities (SIFs) are sanctioned harm reduction facilities where people who inject drugs (PWID) can safely inject pre-obtained drugs under medical supervision, providing emergency response to overdose. SIFs also provide access to counseling, medical and behavioral health services and substance use treatment.
Opioid-related deaths among Massachusetts residents have been steadily and alarmingly increasing since 2010. Six Massachusetts residents die every day from an overdose. We need our legislators to take swift action to establish SIFs in Massachusetts as a tool that we know will save lives.
Massachusetts has a history of taking bold steps to address a public health crisis: amid the worst days of the AIDS epidemic in the 1990s, MA allowed needle exchanges to operate despite the lack of federal authority. Dramatic reductions in HIV infections followed. Today, we are experiencing a devastating public health crisis of overdose deaths in the Commonwealth and bold action from our legislators is required once again.
We encourage you to reach out to your legislators today to voice your support of SIFs by signing this Action Alert.
Together, we can save lives.
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