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Overdose Prevention Centers

Also known as supervised consumption services or safe injection sites, Overdose Prevention Centers (OPCs) are dedicated spaces where individuals can use substances under the supervision of trained medical staff.

Trained staff will intervene if someone who is using substances begins to show signs of an overdose. They may provide naloxone, CPR, and other life-saving measures, as needed.

How Do Overdose Prevention Centers Work?

At most OPCs, people who use drugs are able to:

  • Get sterile supplies to consume drugs.
  • Test their drug supply for fentanyl and other adulterants such as xylazine.
    • An adulterant is a substance that is added to the supply without the consumer’s knowledge. The illicit drug supply is often unpredictable and can change rapidly; testing each dose helps to reduce risk of overdose or injury caused by a drug.
  • Speak to risk reduction specialists about safer use.
  • Get connected to treatment and other health care and social services.

OPCs in the US and Connecticut

Overdose prevention centers are currently legal and available in some countries including Canada. They are not federally legal in the United States and are not available in the state of Connecticut.

Rhode Island was the first state in the country to authorize supervised consumption services in July of 2021. New York City followed by opening two safe injection sites in late 2021.

SafeSpot Hotline: 800-972-0590

SafeSpot is a free, 24/7, national peer-led hotline designed for overdose detection and prevention. Originally, the hotline started as the Massachusetts Overdose Prevention Helpline. In 2025, Connecticut awarded SafeSpot with $1.5 million dollars over 3 years to help fund the staffing efforts of the hotline.

Since the original helpline started in April of 2020, SafeSpot has supervised over 26,000 substance use events and detected 30 overdoses. The hotline has a team of 40 call operators across 12 states. The team is expected to double to more than 80 operators throughout 2025.

How SafeSpot Works:
  • Individuals who are planning to use substance to call the hotline (800-972-0590)
  • A hotline operator will ask the caller their exact location before they use and develop a safety plan in case of overdose.
  • If an overdose does occur, the operator will send help based on the decided safety plan - either through a predetermined responder or by notifying your local Emergency Medical Services.
  • SafeSpot does not collect demographics or personal information such as race, ethnicity, name, or gender. The location of the caller is only collected in case of emergency, and the provided address is not saved or stored by the hotline.

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