Seattle To Open Supervised Injection Facilities, Will Be First In U.S.

On January 27, 2017, the mayor of Seattle and the executive of King County, Washington, announced plans to establish the United States’ first two supervised injection facilities, called Community Health Engagement Locations (CHELs). The facilities are part of the county’s approach to reduce heroin and opioid overdoses. One CHEL will be sited in Seattle and the other elsewhere in King County. The target implementation date was not stated in the announcement.

Each CHEL will provide a clinical setting where people who have a substance-use disorder can safely consume opioids and be connected to onsite treatment. Each site will . . .