About The Study

What we aim to accomplish

The First-Ever Evaluation of Overdose Prevention Centers in the US

As the first OPCs open in the United States, we must understand their impact. This means their impact on the health and safety of people who use drugs and the communities around them. So, we are partnering with community organizations, researchers, and other experts in this evaluation. By studying the first sanctioned US sites, we will generate evidence to inform the implementation of OPCs nationwide.

Below, you can read about the different elements of our OPC evaluation program.

Systematic Social Observation

Neighborhood-level study examining post-OPC implementation changes in measures of neighborhood drug-related activity and other related outcomes (e.g., police presence)

Qualitative Research Program

Ethnographic fieldwork in overdose hotspots with and without planned OPCs, as well as qualitative interviews with OPC clients and staff to examine the impact, facilitators, barriers to uptake, and programmatic needs

Community Stakeholder Survey

Stakeholder interviews with community organizations, business leaders, neighborhood residents, and OPC staff

*Only in Rhode Island

Cohort Study with Data Linkage

Prospective cohort study of 1,000 people who use drugs and either use an OPC or access a syringe service program. Participants are followed over 18 months and matched to administrative data to examine the impact of OPC use on treatment, emergency department visits, overdose events, and other health outcomes.

Community Impacts

Spatial analyses of fatal and non-fatal overdose, crime, measures of neighborhood disorder (e.g., public drug use), and police activity surrounding OPCs using secondary data sources

Cost and Cost-Effectiveness

Evaluation of the costs, cost-effectiveness, costing models, and sustainability of OPCs