[2] Harm reduction provides an alternative to complete abstinence as a method for preventing and mitigating the negative consequences of drug use and addiction.
[5] The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) determined synthetic opioids, like fentanyl, to be the main culprit in increased U.S. opioid-related deaths.
"[6] In April 2021, the CDC and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced that federal funding can be used in the purchase of rapid FTS.
[14] Health departments interested in DHHS funding for SEPs are required to consult with and present evidence to the CDC that the community they serve is either currently in or at risk for an outbreak of HIV of hepatitis infections as a direct result of syringe drug use.
[18] On-site staff may not assist in the injection of drugs, but may provide services like wound care, overdose monitoring, and safe supply.
The Third Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled in January 2021 that opening of site for consumption of illegal drugs is a federal crime.
[19] This decision was rooted in the Controlled Substances Act, which bans an entity from providing a space intended for illicit drug use.
[20] Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 8 details the certification and accreditation process for opioid treatment programs.
[30] Mount Sinai Hospital's Respectful and Equitable Access to Healthcare Program (REACH) received Opioid Overdose Prevention Status (OOPP) in 2017.
[31] REACH acquired funding from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for the creation of overdose education and naloxone distribution.
[31] On November 29, 2021, New York City officials authorized the nation's first two supervised injection facilities in Manhattan, one in East Harlem and one in Washington Heights.
[37] Dr. Laura G. Kehoe, medical director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Substance Use Disorder Bridge Clinic, shared in a U.S. News article that she believed stigma surrounding drug use to be a driving factor in the push against harm reduction initiatives.