From Street to Safety: Exploring the How and Why of Overdose Prevention Centres

Dr. Gillian Shorter is a leading researcher in drug policy, whose work has significantly advanced the empirical and policy understanding of overdose prevention centres (OPCs). Her contributions include the evaluation of the first site in the UK, an unsanctioned overdose prevention van, providing critical evidence on safety, feasibility, and public health impact—demonstrating, notably, that no fatalities occurred during nearly 900 supervised injections. She led the largest evidence review synthesizing over two decades of international research on OPCs, addressing operational models, health outcomes, and legal considerations. Dr. Shorter’s research has been instrumental in informing policy development, challenging stigma, and reframing drug use as a public health issue, with an emphasis on evidence-based interventions and the reduction of harm. In this talk Gillian will discuss what we know about how OPCs operate in the UK and internationally, and if and why we might consider them as a public health intervention for our communities.