A Drug Foundation proposal for an overdose prevention centre in the Auckland CBD has backing from a wide number of organisations including the Society.
The proposal for a three-year pilot is co-authored by the Drug Foundation, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, and the Needle Exchange Services Trust.
In addition to the Society, the proposal has been endorsed by a range of other bodies including, the Centre for Addiction Research at the University of Auckland, NZ Prostitutes’ Collective, Hāpai te Hauora, Community Housing Aotearoa, Odyssey, and ADIO Trust.
The Foundation consulted a variety of stakeholders including the City Mission, Police, Heart of the City, and health, housing, and social sector NGOs.
While an overdose prevention centre would be new to Aotearoa New Zealand, there are more than 130 sites operating in at least 14 countries around the world, with proven results and extensive research backing the approach.
o The Uniting Medically Supervised Injecting Centre in Sydney has supervised more than 1.2 million injections without a single fatality since opening in 2001.
o New York City’s new overdose prevention centres, which opened in late-2021, averted at least 59 overdoses in the first three weeks of operation.
The pilot will require Government approval for an Order in Council to issue a license for the centre.
Our endorsement statement can be read here.
A Drug Foundation proposal for an overdose prevention centre in the Auckland CBD has backing from a wide number of organisations including the Society.
The proposal for a three-year pilot is co-authored by the Drug Foundation, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, and the Needle Exchange Services Trust.
In addition to the Society, the proposal has been endorsed by a range of other bodies including, the Centre for Addiction Research at the University of Auckland, NZ Prostitutes’ Collective, Hāpai te Hauora, Community Housing Aotearoa, Odyssey, and ADIO Trust.
The Foundation consulted a variety of stakeholders including the City Mission, Police, Heart of the City, and health, housing, and social sector NGOs.
While an overdose prevention centre would be new to Aotearoa New Zealand, there are more than 130 sites operating in at least 14 countries around the world, with proven results and extensive research backing the approach.
o The Uniting Medically Supervised Injecting Centre in Sydney has supervised more than 1.2 million injections without a single fatality since opening in 2001.
o New York City’s new overdose prevention centres, which opened in late-2021, averted at least 59 overdoses in the first three weeks of operation.
The pilot will require Government approval for an Order in Council to issue a license for the centre.
Our endorsement statement can be read here.