The Foundation is advocating for a safe, medically-supervised space for drug use to mitigate harm and save lives. Sarah Helm, the executive director, urged the Government to support a three-year pilot of this service in Auckland’s city center. This call follows concerns about New Zealand’s readiness for fentanyl, highlighted by recent overdoses mistaken for cocaine or methamphetamine in Wairarapa.

At a launch event, Helm emphasized the current neglect of overdose issues among Auckland’s vulnerable, stressing the strain on emergency services and community well-being. Dr. Dan Werb from Toronto’s Centre on Drug Policy Evaluation supported the initiative.

“New Zealand is in an exceptionally lucky situation to put overdose prevention measures in place in a proactive and not a reactive way. The proposal to put forward an overdose prevention site is an exceptionally forward-thinking move,” he said.

Werb said overdose prevention centres in Canada have saved the life of every single person who overdosed on site.

He said they also found people don’t take unnecessary risks simply because the services are there.

“New Zealand has an opportunity to emerge as a world leader on evidence-based and effective responses to substance use and to avert the catastrophes that other countries have experienced,” he said.

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