Supervised injection facilities allow people to use drugs under the watch of trained staff, reducing the risk of overdose deaths.
They provide sterile needles to prevent transmission of HIV and hepatitis B and C, and offer clients an entry point for seeking medical care and addiction treatment.
Indoor sites also reduce street-based drug use and improper syringe disposal, a growing problem in the city. While there are currently no sanctioned injection sites in the United States, around 150 such facilities operate worldwide.City officials estimate that there are around 25,000 people who inject drugs in San Francisco.