Allen B, Basaraba C, Chambers LC, Behrends CN, Marshall BDL, Cerdá M. Overdose Prevention Centers and Neighborhood Commercial Activity in New York City. JAMA Netw Open. 2026;9(2):e2559863. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.59863
This neighborhood-level study looked at the impact that the overdose prevention centers in East Harlem and Washington Heights had on commercial activity in neighboring businesses. It found that OPC opening was not associated with significant changes in local economic activity.
Context: Overdose prevention centers (OPCs) are interventions to reduce overdose mortality and support health care engagement. In the US, concerns have been raised that OPCs may be associated with reduced economic activity in their surrounding neighborhoods. This study looked at the impact that the overdose prevention centers in East Harlem and Washington Heights had on commercial activity in neighboring businesses.
Methods: This neighborhood-level study used anonymized mobility and spending data from June 1, 2021, to June 13, 2022, for the areas surrounding the East Harlem and Washington Heights OPCs in NYC. These neighborhoods were defined using 5-minute and 10-minute walking buffers and Business Improvement Districts (BIDs). Data was obtained from SafeGraph, a geolocation analytics firm; two 2 linked SafeGraph data types were used: (1) geolocated mobility data from points of interest (POI), which capture movement into commercial storefronts, airports, restaurants, and medical offices, and (2) consumer credit card spending data from a subset of these POIs. Controls were walking buffers and BIDs around syringe service programs without OPCs and opioid treatment programs that were operational as of OPCs’ opening.
Results: This neighborhood-level study found that OPC opening was not associated with significant changes in local economic activity.