The Contemporary Discourse of American Supervised Injection Facilities : An analysis of the conversation surrounding the implementation of supervised injection facilities in New York City

Abstract: This paper explores the discourse surrounding the introduction of supervised injection facilities (SIF) in New York City following their recent introduction in November 2021.  The contemporary debate surrounding SIF in New York is more diverse than may be assumed, even within a seemingly liberal city in the United States, as there are many competing perspectives which make broad categorizations of the discourse difficult. Nevertheless, supporters of SIF have continued to emphasize the efficacy of this program and its potential to prevent overdoses in a largely uniform manner.  In contrast, critics of SIF in NYC have demonstrated a multiplicity of oppositional narratives, which take the forms of traditional abstinence perspectives, localism/not in my backyard rhetoric, law and order beliefs, and social justice evaluations that question the equality of such programs. Nearly all sentiments regarding SIF are founded in the individual perceptions of addiction, specifically whether the individual views it as a disease or a moral failing.        The United States is slowly continuing to adopt more dynamic approaches to substance abuse and move away from the punitive policies established through the War on Drugs strategies advanced throughout the previous decade.  This pilot program can be viewed as a continuation of existing harm reduction policies such as syringe exchange programs.  While the introduction of SIF signifies a substantial evolution of the existing harm reduction policies and provides the basis for national expansion of the program, the current socio-political environment does not prove conducive to its evolution.  Overall, this study explores the diverse range of narratives surrounding SIF, their informing ideology, and attempts to situate these opinions within their broader sociological and historical backgrounds, providing the basis for further research regarding this subject.