OnPoint NYC
Formation2021
Merger ofNew York Harm Reduction Educators, Washington Heights Corner Project
TypeNonprofit
Purposesafe injection sites and other harm reduction services
Location
  • New York City
LeaderSam Rivera
Staff (2023)
~120
Websiteonpointnyc.org

OnPoint NYC is a New York City nonprofit that operates two privately-run safe injection sites in East Harlem and Washington Heights.[1] OnPoint refers to its sites as Overdose Prevention Centers (OPCs) rather than safe injection sites.[2] Placed at the sites of existing syringe service programs,[3] these were America's first safe injection facilities when they opened in November 2021.[1] In their first year of operation, OnPoint's sites served over 2,100 clients and treated 672 overdoses, with no resulting deaths.[4] OnPoint also employs staff to collect discarded drug paraphernalia in parks and other public areas.[1] In August 2023, top Federal prosecutor for Manhattan announced consumption site part of OnPoint's activity is unlawful.

Background

OnPoint was created in 2021 from the merger of two existing groups, New York Harm Reduction Educators and Washington Heights Corner Project.[3][5] In February 2023 OnPoint had around 120 employees.[6] OnPoint's workers voted to unionize with UNITE HERE in December 2022.[6] The sites also offer medical care, drug checking,[7] laundry facilities, showers, and other services.[5]

New York mayor Bill de Blasio had been advocating for the city to open safe injection sites since 2018.[3] The opening of OnPoint's OPCs is one demonstration of a shift toward harm reduction in American drug policy, prompted by a worsening opioid overdose crisis and an illicit drug supply containing high levels of fentanyl.[5][8] Under President Joe Biden, the United States Department of Justice has taken a hands-off approach to safe injection sites,[9] although possession of opioids without a prescription remains illegal.

Data obtained from the state about the user base of the center by a community organization called Greater Harlem Coalition showed most users of the Harlem location are not Harlem residents. Gothamist and WNYC reviewed 2019–2020 data of opioid clinic usage in Harlem and found that 25% or 605 users were from Harlem and 75% or 1841 people commuted from as far as Staten Island and Westchester.[10] In December 2021, this data led to Rev. Al Sharpton and Representative Adriano Espaillat leading a protest for siting services like drug user programs like OnPoint in black neighborhoods that affluent white neighborhoods do not want in their community.[10][11] The protest in Harlem drew over 100 people.[11]

The New York Times reported visible drug activities around the block at OnPoint's E 126th St location in August, 2023.[12] The consumption site is across the street from a child care center.[13] The center has become the hub for drug dealing as commuting dealers flocked to do business with clients of the center.[14]

Illan Ireland writing for Columbia News Service reports neighbors say "drug users have poured into the neighborhood" after the center and are often seen milling about in nearby public areas.[14]

On August 7, 2023, top Federal prosecutor for Manhattan announced OnPoint's activities are illegal, because it is a violation of federal law to maintain property where controlled substances are consumed.[12]

OnPoint has received funding from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene,[15] the New York Community Trust[16] and the New York Health Foundation,[16] among other sources. As of June 2022 it had received no state or federal funding.[17] Counseling, syringe service program and other services offered around the consumption site receive city and state funding, but the consumption site is privately funded.[11]

Some Harlem activists and politicians (including Al Taylor, Inez Dickens, and Yusef Salaam) have criticized the Harlem site, viewing it as part of an oversaturation of shelters and addiction treatment facilities in the neighborhood.[16][18] Some Harlem residents have also complained of increased crime (including drug dealing and public drug use) in the area since the site opened.[19] In 2022 MTA officials reported an increase in drug use at subway stations near OnPoint's OPCs.[20] MTA officials and mayor Eric Adams have suggested operating the OPCs 24/7 to alleviate this problem; OnPoint has responded that it lacks the funding to do this.[21][20]

Sam Rivera, OnPoint's director, was included in Time magazine's list of "The 100 Most Influential People of 2023".[22]

In 2023 NYU Langone Health and Brown University announced that OnPoint would be included in the first federally-funded study to evaluate the effectiveness of OPCs.[23][8] This study will be funded by NIDA.[8]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Kim, Phenix (2022-12-03). "New York City's first safe injection sites avert 633 drug overdoses on anniversary". NYN Media. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  2. ↑ "Media Center". OnPoint NYC. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  3. 1 2 3 Mays, Jeffery C.; Newman, Andy (2021-11-30). "Nation's First Supervised Drug-Injection Sites Open in New York". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  4. ↑ Whelan, Aubrey. "New York's supervised injection sites have halted nearly 700 overdoses in just over a year". Philadelphia Inquirer.
  5. 1 2 3 Oladipo, Gloria (January 25, 2022). "'It's saved many lives': first US overdose prevention centers give safe spaces to people in crisis". The Guardian.
  6. 1 2 Murray, Nick. "OnPoint NYC, a Trailblazing Harm-Reduction Organization, May Soon Be a Union Shop". Jacobin.
  7. ↑ "NYC launches drug checking program to spot fentanyl before people overdose". Gothamist. December 7, 2022.
  8. 1 2 3 Johnson, Steven Ross. "Safe Consumption Sites Study Aims to 'Rise Above the Politics'". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
  9. ↑ "Justice Dept. signals it may allow safe injection sites". AP NEWS. February 7, 2022.
  10. 1 2 O'Donnell, James (Dec 16, 2021). "Harlem Residents Protest Against Opioid Clinics After Data Shows Most Are Used By Non-Residents". Gothamist. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  11. 1 2 3 "A look inside the 1st official 'safe injection sites' in US". Associated Press. 2022-03-09. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  12. 1 2 Otterman, Sharon (2023-08-08). "Federal Officials May Shut Down Overdose Prevention Centers in Manhattan". The New York Times. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
  13. ↑ "Harlem City Council candidates all oppose proliferation of drug-related services". POLITICO. 2023-06-09. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  14. 1 2 Ireland, Illan (2022-12-09). "East Harlem's Supervised Injection Site Saves Lives. It's Also a Public Safety Concern, Residents Say". Columbia News Service. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  15. ↑ Harocopos, Alex; Gibson, Brent E.; Saha, Nilova; McRae, Michael T.; See, Kailin; Rivera, Sam; Chokshi, Dave A. (July 15, 2022). "First 2 Months of Operation at First Publicly Recognized Overdose Prevention Centers in US". JAMA Network Open. 5 (7): e2222149. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.22149. PMC 9287749. PMID 35838672 – via Silverchair.
  16. 1 2 3 Wernau, Julie (March 2, 2023). "New York City Sanctioned Drug-Use Sites Reach a Crossroads". WSJ.
  17. ↑ https://www.npr.org/2022/06/04/1103114131/supervised-injection-sites-in-nyc-have-saved-lives-but-officials-wont-provide-fu
  18. ↑ Guilfoil, Kyla (June 9, 2023). "Harlem City Council candidates all oppose proliferation of drug-related services". POLITICO.
  19. ↑ Johnson, Stephon (December 13, 2022). "Saving Lives or Ruining the Neighborhood? East Harlem Locals at Odds as America's First Safe Injection Site Turns One". The City.
  20. 1 2 Martinez, Jose (2022-05-17). "When Safe Injection Sites Close, Subway Becomes Next Best Stop". The City. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
  21. ↑ "Eric Adams Calls for 24-Hour Overdose Prevention Centers". The City. May 19, 2022.
  22. ↑ Macy, Beth (2023-04-13). "The 100 Most Influential People of 2023: Sam Rivera". Time. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  23. ↑ Kaufman, Maya (2023-05-08). "NYU Langone, Brown launch NIH-funded study of overdose prevention centers". POLITICO. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
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