County by county estimation of possible deaths averted, infections averted, and cost savings of overdose prevention health centers in the United States from 2020-June 2024

Overdose prevention health centers (OPHCs), also known as overdose prevention centers or safe injection centers, are an evidence-based strategy for people to use drugs in an environment monitored by health care professionals with access to drug use education, sterile supplies, and referral infrastructure to access higher levels of medical and behavioral health resources. Though still illegal under federal law throughout the United States, many legal or quasi-legal (including some in the United States) have operated since the 1980s (Beletsky, Baker et al. 2018). Using CDC overdose deaths and United States Census Bureau population data, we estimate 1,193 deaths could have been averted between 2020 and June 2024 if 1 out of 400 injections had taken place at an OPHC. At this rate, 22 HIV transmissions and 4,763 Hepatitis C Virus transmissions would have been averted. Over $1.5 billion in discounted lifetime costs to treat those infections could have been saved. This data supports OPHCs as one viable public health intervention to avert deaths and avoid infections. Furthermore, a web application was created to assist users explore this analysis, data visualizations, and even alter model assumptions, including variables like what percent of injections occur at an OPHC.