Table 4.
Recommended checklist for jurisdictions interested in opening OPCs
| Checklist | Examples from NYC |
|---|---|
| □ Report local data on drug overdose burden |
• NYC Health Department publishes yearly Epi Data Briefs on unintentional drug overdose deaths as well reports quarterly data • NYC’s 2018 feasibility study included a literature review summarizing international data on supervised consumption |
| □ Collect supporting evidence | |
| □ Determine the readiness of potential OPC providers and their needs (e.g., funding) |
• OnPoint is an existing SSP provider with longstanding relationships with the NYC Health Department and a long history of serving people who use drugs • OnPoint developed an operational manual and budget, which were shared with NYC Health Department • OnPoint sought additional public funding for syringe services and private funding for OPC services • NYC Health Department identified and funded an academic partner to conduct a multi-year prospective cohort study on OPCs, examining individual and community health outcomes |
| □ Plan an evaluation of OPC services | |
| □ Engage community members, elected officials, and relevant government stakeholders |
• NYC Health Department conducted the following engagement: ⚬ Local: Community boards, advocacy groups, city agencies, local elected officials, and district attorneys’ offices ⚬ State: NYS OASAS, NYS DOH, and NYS Governor’s Office ⚬ Federal: HHS, SAMHSA, and ONDCP • BuzzFeed published an op-ed authored by the NYC Health Commissioner and 4 of the 5 borough district attorneys in support of OPCs |
| □ Proactively identify key stakeholders to validate and voice support | |
| □ Announce the opening of OPCs along with recent data, sharable assets, and a communications plan |
• NYC announced the opening of OPCs via a press release that references 2020 data as well as provisional data for the first quarter of 2021 [9] • After the announcement, NYC Health Department continued to engage community members and elected officials and continued commitment to data transparency. OnPoint continues to host visitors to tour their sites |