5 things you need to know about pima county’s new safe-injection site pilot
- The pilot program, approved by the Pima County Board of Supervisors, establishes the first legal supervised consumption site in the region, aimed at reducing overdose deaths by providing a clean, monitored environment for illicit drug use under medical supervision.
- Initial data from the first month of operation shows a 40% reduction in paramedic calls for overdoses in the immediate surrounding blocks, with no reported deaths on-site, challenging critics who predicted increased crime.
- Strict criteria limit access: only enrolled individuals with a prescription for opioid use disorder or a referral from a health clinic can use the site, ensuring it targets high-risk chronic users rather than casual visitors.
- Local business owners near the pilot location report mixed reactions, with some citing increased loitering and needle debris despite a 24/7 cleanup crew funded by the county, while others note fewer emergency incidents.
- Federal funding remains unavailable due to the Controlled Substances Act, so Pima County is relying on a mix of state grants, private donations, and a special property tax levy—up for voter renewal in November—to sustain the program beyond its 12-month pilot.