News Media Coverage of Overdose Prevention Centers: A Content Analysis

Abstract News media has long been recognized as a powerful force in shaping public sentiment, policy and the law. Overdose prevention centers (OPCs), also known as safe consumption sites, are an evidence-based intervention designed to reduce drug-related health risks among people who use drugs (PWUD). In the U.S., OPCs continue to face implementation challenges, including political opposition. We sought to quantitatively characterize the language, arguments and perspectives included in news media coverage of OPCs. We identified 119 digitized news articles published between 2016 and 2022 based on search terms tailored to this subject. Content analysis was applied to the included articles. Overall, 58.0% of articles were favorable to OPC implementation, 31.9% were neutral, and 10.1% were unfavorable. The most frequently cited benefits of OPCs were linkage to wraparound services (94.1%); rapid overdose response (90.8%); and exchange of safer use supplies (82.4%). The top cited negative consequences included stigmatizing arguments counter to evidence such as enabling drug use (51.3%), increased crime (24.4%), and public drug use (22.7%). These arguments were more common in media articles containing unfavorable coverage of OPCs. Most news media articles provided favorable coverage of OPCs. However, the inclusion of inaccurate claims—particularly in unfavorable coverage—could reinforce misinformation and stigma.