Key points
- Supervised Injecting Facilities (SIFs) are a well-known, and at times controversial public policy measure to reduce the harms associated with injecting drug use
- A substantial amount of literature has been published on SIFs
- We located 134 papers and reports that provided reviews, outcome studies, economic evaluations, policy analyses and descriptions of SIF from across the globe
- The annotated bibliography provides the details of these papers
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Overall, the research indicates some positive outcomes from SIFs in relation to:
- Reductions in overdose
- Less risky injecting practices
- Improved access to drug treatment, health and welfare services
- Improvements in public amenity
- Reductions in crime
- However, the majority of evidence comes largely from two sites (Sydney and Vancouver), and effectiveness research has been methodologically limited
- SIFs remain politically contentious, despite the evidence base