Dozens of advocates testified on February 18 at the Connecticut state Capitol in support of new legislation that would authorize the creation of overdose prevention centers (OPCs) — also called supervised consumption sites or safe injection facilities — making Connecticut one of the few U.S. states to adopt them.
What the bill proposes:
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The measure continues a multiyear effort to establish facilities where people could use drugs they have obtained under supervision by trained staff, with access to overdose reversal medication (such as naloxone), sterile supplies, and health services.
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Supporters argue these centers are a public health tool to reduce fatal overdoses, connect individuals to treatment or counseling, and reduce the harms associated with unsupervised drug use.
Background and legislative history:
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A similar effort last year nearly passed: the state Senate included an OPC provision in a public health bill, but it was removed before a House vote amid opposition from Governor Ned Lamont at that time.
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Governor Lamont has since said he wants to see results from existing centers in other states (such as Rhode Island and New York) before fully committing.
Voices in testimony:
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Advocates included family members affected by overdose deaths; one speaker described how a loved one’s death from a fentanyl-laced overdose might have been prevented in a supervised setting.
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Testimony also challenged the “wait and see” approach, stressing community urgency while citing international evidence showing that no one has died of an overdose at an OPC and that such centers can reduce public drug use without increasing crime.
Opposition and concerns:
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Some legislators and stakeholders raised concerns about whether OPCs would encourage drug use or conflict with federal law.
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The governor and his team have been in communication with lawmakers about the bill, but as of the hearing it was unclear how much direct engagement the governor has had with the proposal’s co-sponsors.
Read the full article: https://ctmirror.org/2026/02/18/advocates-revive-overdose-prevention-centers-bill-ct/?utm