Supervised Consumption Sites (SCS) are places where people who use drugs can consume a substance without crimination and with available medical support. Our research has shown that significant costs are avoided when overdoses are reversed at an SCS, instead of in an emergency department. SCS also make healthcare better for everyone, because they decrease the number of people who need treatment in the emergency department, decreasing wait times for everyone.
We also found that clients go to SCS to access primary care or referral services – not to use drugs. About 10% of the visits to the SCS are for services like housing, addiction treatment, and other healthcare issues like frostbite. SCS is a supportive place where clients aren’t judged, so clients feel safe to be in that space. SCS act as a path for clients to move towards their versions of recovery, whether that be a sobriety or agonist treatment program. Many people who use drugs and experience homelessness have been significantly harmed by institutions, whether they be residential schools, conversion therapy, or inappropriate healthcare. SCS are available on a consent basis and clients can build relationships with staff, as a stepping stone to other types of treatment. These factors all mean that we should have SCS widely available across cities, to support folks that use drugs.
There are a lot of myths about SCS and it is important to look past outdated arguments to the wealth of research available. More information is available from Why SCS.
