Overdose prevention centers (OPCs), also known as safe consumption sites, provide a controlled environment for people to consume pre-obtained drugs with sterile supplies and staff supervision. They often have referrals available for healthcare and social service needs. While many countries have used OPCs since the mid-1980s, there are only two recognized OPCs in the United States (both in New York City). Due to the staggering rise in fatal overdoses in the United States, some states have begun to consider legislation to authorize OPCs.
This longitudinal dataset captures details of legislation authorizing OPCs, their requirements for establishment, and the types of services provided introduced from January 1, 2019 - January 1, 2023 in all 50 states, District of Columbia, and four U.S. territories. A separate dataset that focuses on harm reduction laws is available on LawAtlas.org (see Overdose Data to Action: Harm Reduction).
This publication was created by the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials as part of the cooperative agreement funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Overdose Data to Action (OD2A).