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Heroin users would be allowed to inject themselves in supervised facilities under a proposal that's found little support on Staten Island.

(Advance file photo/William Burlingham)

CITY HALL -- Heroin users would be allowed to inject themselves in supervised facilities under a proposal that's found little support on Staten Island.

A coalition of public health experts and advocates of drug policy reforms is calling for New York to authorize supervised injection facilities in order to fight the overdose crisis. The group includes the New York Academy of Medicine and the Drug Policy Alliance.

"Supervised injection facilities can reduce overdose deaths and have proven effective in improving a host of public health and public safety outcomes," the Drug Policy Alliance's Julie Netherland said in a statement. "We can no longer afford to let fear and stigma stand in the way of saving lives."

The number of overdose deaths involving heroin increased citywide for the fourth year in a row in 2014, according to the city's Health Department.

'HARM REDUCTION'

The supervised facilities are meant to provide a safe and hygienic space for people to inject pre-obtained drugs under the supervision of health workers. They are intended as a harm-reduction service and have been shown in some studies to reduce overdose deaths, HIV and viral hepatitis infections and public disorder. The facilities also increase users' access to drug treatment and other healthcare.

There are about 100 supervised injection facilities around the world, but none in the U.S. and just one in North America.

The city is not considering authorizing a supervised injection facility anytime soon.

Mayor Bill de Blasio on Thursday said he didn't know about about the proposal to form an opinion.

"The Health Department promotes harm reduction strategies, including the recent expansion of access to naloxone, and will continue to work with providers and advocates to find other ways to save lives and reduce health consequences of substance misuse," spokesman Christopher Miller said.

Critics on Staten Island argue that the facilities are counterproductive, ineffective and don't address the underlying causes of addiction.

STRONG OPPOSITION

Luke Nasta, executive director of Camelot Counseling Service, said that government resources should be focused on prevention, treatment and the promotion of healthy practices.

"This would be a clear message of surrender in the effort to control the heroin epidemic, prevent new users and reverse a deadly trend," Nasta said. "An epidemic cannot be curtailed by giving it a safe environment in which to thrive."

Staten Island had the highest rate of overdose deaths involving heroin last year. The borough also saw the most fatal overdoses involving opioid analgesics per 100,000 residents. Both rates increased since 2013.

Borough President James Oddo likened allowing the facilities to the community's raising the white flag in the fight against the effects of opioid addiction.

"This proposal, if enacted, would hurt our efforts to help Staten Islanders by perpetuating drug abuse," he said in a statement. "With one breath we cannot tell children that drug abuse is bad, and with another breath provide drug addicted individuals with a government approved shooting gallery to continue using drugs."

The facilities would enable users, said Johanna Sozio, the clinical director at the Bridge Back to Life Center in Castleton Corners, which is abstinence-based. But she said there are pros as well.

"They're not getting diseases, they're safe, I understand that perspective of it," Sozio said. "But we find that the highest success rates are with the clients that are able to do core therapy and address the life areas where they are struggling."

Nasta also questioned whether addicts would would use facilities that are known to law enforcement.

"These people are using more than a dozen times a week, so do we think they're going to scurry off to the legal shooting gallery to get their fix? I don't think so," he said. "It's unrealistic and I resent that it's even on the table."

The city announced this week that pharmacies across the city will offer naloxone, which can reverse the effects of opioid overdose, without a prescription. The "Too Good for Drugs" program will also expand to more Staten Island schools.