Latest news with #ProjectWeber
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Four years after R.I. lawmakers OK safe injection site program, they're still debating its merits
Rhode Island's first harm reduction center, offering space for people to safely use illegal drugs in a medically supervised setting, opened in south Providence in January. (Courtesy of Mandy Roman with Project Weber/RENEW) Rep. Jay Edwards expected opposition when he first pitched the idea of setting up medically supervised sites in Rhode Island where people could safely use illegal drugs. But in the four years since Edwards' bill was signed into law, making Rhode Island the first state in the nation to authorize 'harm reduction centers,' concern and misunderstanding has dissipated over what researchers and health care providers agree may help mitigate drug overdoses and deaths. Since opening in mid-January, the state's first and only harm reduction center has drawn more than 500 visitors and prevented 27 overdose deaths, according to information from Project Weber/RENEW, the nonprofit that operates the south Providence site. Which is why Edwards was caught off guard by the lengthy and fiery debate among his House colleagues Tuesday over a proposed two-year extension to the existing program, to March 1, 2028. 'It kind of surprised me,' Edwards, a Tiverton Democrat, said in an interview Wednesday. 'This is a law that is already in place and we already have a site up and running. They're not going to take it down this minute.' First state-regulated overdose prevention center could open by summer in Providence The House ultimately approved the extension legislation by a 52-17 vote, with six members absent, following a 90-minute floor debate. The passionate debate centered not on whether the existing pilot program should be extended, and more on the criminal and health implications of offering a place for people to use illegal drugs at all. 'They were just rehashing the same issue that we already decided,' Edwards said in an interview Wednesday. 'There was nothing novel about the opposition.' He went on to characterize opponents' proclamations as 'grandstanding' and 'playing to the cameras.' Phrases like 'sanctioned opium dens' and 'Band-Aid approach' were invoked by opposing lawmakers of both political parties, who alleged that giving people a place to safely use drugs would drive up violence and criminal activity in the surrounding neighborhood. The city of Providence has not received any police, fire or emergency management calls to the address of Project Weber/RENEW's center near Rhode Island Hospital since the safe injection site opened this year, Anthony Vega, a city spokesperson, said in an email Wednesday. Data on 911 calls and arrests to other addresses surrounding the center were not immediately available. How the center impacts visitors and the community, including police activity, is being studied by Brown University researchers. Amendments to Edwards' extension bill bolster program reporting requirements to include the number of people connected to other specialists for addiction treatment, and total overdoses prevented. Existing law requires state-authorized harm reduction centers to provide other health-screening and disease prevention resources by medically trained professionals. Project Weber/RENEW relocated its headquarters to the south Providence building that houses the safe injection site, providing space for administrative work and other community health and support services, Roman said. House Minority Whip David Place, a Burrillville Republican, supported the extension of the pilot program as a way to gather more data on its effectiveness, even though he said he 'adamantly opposed' the original bill. 'We made a decision however many years ago to put this policy into effect,' Place said during the floor debate. 'We owe it to ourselves to check it out and see how it works.' We made a decision however many years ago to put this policy into effect. We owe it to ourselves to check it out and see how it works. – House Minority Whip David Place, a Burrillville Republican Mandy Roman, a spokesperson for Project Weber/RENEW, also stressed the importance of a longer operational period in an email Wednesday. 'We know firsthand that building trust, gathering meaningful data, and demonstrating impact takes time,' Roman said. 'A longer pilot period is essential to fully evaluate the program's effectiveness in saving lives and connecting people to care.' Gov. Dan McKee, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley and the Mental Health Association of Rhode Island also wrote to lawmakers to back the extension bill. Rep. Pat Serpa, a West Warwick Democrat, pointed to the lack of buy-in from cities and towns except for Providence — the law requires city or town councils to formally vote to agree to host a harm reduction center — as evidence of the public opposition. 'If this is so virtuous, if this such a great idea, why don't you propose this in your district,' said Rep. Jon Brien, a Woonsocket independent. 'My suspicion is there will be somebody sitting in your seat after the next election?' Yet Rep. José Batista, a Providence Democrat whose district includes the center operated by Project Weber/RENEW, supported the program, and the two-year extension. He acknowledged he was initially concerned. 'The shortest point that helped convince me was, if you don't like safe locations, what about all the unsafe locations that exist right now: under bridges, in the dark,' Batista said. Batista also argued that punitive measures to sanction illegal drug activity have historically failed. 'Perhaps we should try something different, something backed by science and research and data,' he said. I am totally against drugs, but guess what, if these harm reduction centers save one person, what's the value of that life? I'd give everything I have, everything I own to see my brother again. – Rep. Gregory Costantino, a Lincoln Democrat whose brother died due to substance abuse Drug-related overdoses in Rhode Island fell by 21% from 2023 to 2024, to 320 deaths, according to state health data. Illegal drugs, used alone or in combination with authorized prescription medications, continue to dominate, responsible for nearly 84% of drug-related overdose deaths in 2024. 'We have to stop thinking people who use drugs are bad people and we have to stop shaming them,' said Karen Alzate, a Pawtucket Democrat. 'We are not here as a legislative body to continue to shame people who go into these centers.' State law specifies that harm reduction centers be funded by revenue from opioid settlement lawsuits. But several opposing lawmakers decried other costs associated with centers. Project Weber/RENEW, as a nonprofit, doesn't pay property taxes, for example. Rep. Charlene Lima, a Cranston Democrat, also questioned the burden on first responders, assuming that police and ambulance visits to the south Providence neighborhood had increased since Project Weber/RENEW opened its doors. 'Don't tell me you think this is free and it's just falling out of the sky,' Lima said. 'That's a load of baloney.' Amid the rising tones and tensions, Rep. Gregory Costantino, a Lincoln Democrat, struck a noticeably subdued tenor as he shared a story about an unnamed pair of teenage brothers, the older of whom struggled with addiction to various drugs. 'At 27 years old, I had to bury my brother,' Costantino said. 'It devastated, devastated our family.' The whispers in the chamber quieted as Costantino continued. 'I am totally against drugs, but guess what, if these harm reduction centers save one person, what's the value of that life? I'd give everything I have, everything I own to see my brother again.' Similar though not identical legislation in the Rhode Island Senate sponsored by Melissa Murray, a Woonsocket Democrat, would make the pilot program permanent. Murray's bill remains under review by the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services following an initial hearing on March 4. A committee vote has not been scheduled, and potential amendments to Murray's bill are still being reviewed, Greg Paré, a Senate spokesperson, said in a text message Wednesday. How they voted Seventeen members of the House of Representatives voted against a bill to extend the state's pilot safe injection program by two years. They are: Rep. Jon Brien, a Woonsocket independent Rep. Julie Casimiro, a North Kingstown Democrat House Minority Leader Mike Chippendale, a Foster Republican Rep. Arthur Corvese, a North Providence Democrat Rep. Richard Fascia, a Johnston Republican Rep. Marie Hopkins, a Warwick Republican Rep. Charlene Lima, a Cranston Democrat Rep. George Nardone, a Coventry Republican Rep. Thomas Noret, a Coventry Democrat Rep. William O'Brien, a North Providence Democrat Rep. Christopher Paplauskas, a Cranston Republican Rep. Ramon Perez, a Providence Democrat Rep. Robert Phillips, a Woonsocket Democrat Rep. Robert Quattrocchi, a Scituate Republican Rep. Earl Read, a Coventry Democrat Rep. Paul Santucci, a Smithfield Republican Rep. Patricia Serpa, a West Warwick Democrat Representatives Samuel Azzinaro, Jacquelyn Baginski, Stephen Casey, Alex Finkelman, Brandon Potter and Sherry Roberts were absent. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Providence's safe injection site sees hundreds in first two months
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — The country's first state-sanctioned overdose prevention center has prevented roughly two dozen overdoses in its first two months of operation, according to program leaders. The center, operated by Project Weber/RENEW, quietly opened its doors on Willard Ave in Providence on Jan. 15. In July 2021, Gov. Dan McKee signed legislation allowing for a harm reduction center pilot program. A ribbon cutting was held last December as construction was wrapping up. In the months since, overdose prevention program director Dennis Bailer told Target 12 that hundreds of people have walked through the door. 'We've had over 420 people come here since mid-January. 135 of those are unique individuals, so they've come back multiple times,' Bailer said. 'We've connected over 50 people to health services.' Bailer said so far, staff have also prevented roughly two dozen overdoses from occurring. 'If those 22 interventions hadn't happened here, those overdoses would have happened who knows where, and we don't know what the outcomes would have been,' Bailer said. The space has a so-called 'chill-out room' for people who want a quiet space, two smoking rooms, and seven injection booths. The booths have built-in mirrors, so users can better see what they're doing, but also so for staff to observe. 'They can see if it appears as though they are having some challenges, or they could go at the onset of overdose, we can spot it right away,' Bailer said. The center has faced opposition from some who say the site could encourage the use of illegal drugs, and that the state's opioid settlement money – which fund the facility – should instead be used on rehabilitation and recovery efforts. Bailer, who is in recovery, said using in an environment like this is better than the alternative. 'We tend to use alone in dark places,' Bailer said. 'We have people who come in with pre-obtained substances that they were going to use someplace anyway, whether it be behind a dumpster on Broad Street or in some abandoned building or some encampment.' Data from the Office of the State Medical Examiner shows accidental overdoses, while on the decline in recent years, are still killing hundreds of Rhode Islanders each year. A total of 436 accidental overdose deaths were reported in 2022, followed by 404 in 2023. Last year, 308 died from an overdose (data from July to December 2024 are still considered provisional). The Governor's Overdose Task Force set a 2030 goal to reduce fatal overdoses by 30%, returning fatal overdose rates to below 2019 levels, when there were 308 deaths. In addition to providing a space that's safe, Bailer said staff offer a welcoming environment. 'We engage with them and we try to take the shame and the feelings of the lack of self-worth,' Bailer said. 'We add some dignity to their lives when they're doing something that otherwise criminalized and stigmatized and judged.' Bailer said people can engage with recovery services if they're ready and at their own pace. The drop-in center downstairs offers a variety of services that people may need. 'We provide case management, HIV and hepatitis C testing,' Bailer said. 'We have showers and laundry. We feed people, give them clothing.' People can also be connected with a behavioral health professional, or things they may otherwise not have had an opportunity to engage with, like holistic services like acupuncture, gong baths, or art therapy. 'Yes, they've used, but they're alive, they're engaged, and they have an opportunity to connect to many other resources,' Bailed said. Brown University researchers have also been measuring the site's impact. In addition to the state's overdose data, researchers are looking at things like police and EMS calls, evidence of drug paraphernalia in local neighborhoods, to see what kind of effect the center has made since opening. A spokesperson for Providence police and fire told Target 12 that as of March 20, there had been police or fire dispatches to the facility. Alexandra Leslie (aleslie@ is a Target 12 investigative reporter covering Providence and more for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter and on Facebook. Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
