Providence City Council has authorized the establishment of the first safe injection center in Rhode Island, making it the only facility of its kind in the U.S. outside New York City. The centers aim to provide a supervised environment for drug use, with medical and social workers on hand to prevent overdoses, offer hygiene products, and connect people with resources. While supporters argue that these centers save lives and reduce public drug use and crime, opponents, including law enforcement groups, believe they encourage permissiveness around illegal drugs and bring drug use into struggling neighborhoods.