Five years ago, my colleagues and I stood outside, excitedly holding a handmade banner that read: TO SAFEHOUSE WITH LOVE, BOSTON.
What had brought us together was the anticipated opening of America’s first overdose prevention center (OPC). Safehouse was set to launch in Philadelphia in February 2020, following years of legal battles. Its debut signaled a promising new era—one that valued the lives of people who use drugs and embraced evidence-based harm reduction strategies to combat the overdose crisis. But the celebration was short-lived. As community resistance intensified and the building owner withdrew the lease, Safehouse was forced to retreat. To this day, it remains unopened.
It was my dream to work at the first overdose prevention center in the United States. When Safehouse’s plans fell through, the question of which state would claim that milestone was unclear. (It ended up being NY in 2021). Who could have imagined that five years later I would find myself working at Ireland’s first OPC, known here as a Medically Supervised Injecting Facility (MSIF)?
Even before I submitted my Mitchell Scholarship application, I had been manifesting the chance to work with Merchants Quay Ireland (MQI)—the organization behind Ireland’s first syringe exchange program and MSIF. As luck would have it, just hours after arriving in Dublin for the first time, I had my interview for an MSIF Project Worker role. By the end of that week, I learned I’d secured a spot on the inaugural team. From the moment I stepped into the space, it felt like home.
Three weeks ago, we officially opened our doors, and it has been a whirlwind ever since. We’ve had over 100 clients, all of whom are kind, funny, creative and endlessly grateful. I share this gratitude. The space itself is remarkable. The booths are huge (I’ve volunteered at the MSIF in Mexico, and three of their booths could fit into one of ours!), we have a fancy vein finder, and compassionate staff who not only provide syringes and walk clients through the injection process but also make a great cup of tea.
It’s just the beginning, but the opportunity to be part of this has been an incredible complement to the Addiction Recovery course I’m taking at Trinity. Trinity, much like MQI, has made me feel at home. Every day, my classmates bring snacks and sweets to share with one another. Just today, I was offered tangerines, biscuits, chocolates, and rice cakes. I will certainly miss this when I return to academia in America.
I’m also constantly in awe of the expertise and passion my classmates bring. Each of them is actively working in the field of addiction and their drive (both mental and physical) is inspiring. One classmate, for example, commutes from Belfast and stays in a hostel on class days just to participate in the program. Let me emphasize that. She commutes from another country to attend class. That shut me up about my 1-hour Luas commute really quick. She also frequently speaks and writes in Irish with all of us, which I love. Today, I was thrilled to correctly recognize when she asked my friend to pass her the milk (bainne)! It seems my Duolingo lessons are finally paying off.
Sometimes, on my way to work or heading to class, it’s easy to forget I’m in Ireland. My noise-canceling headphones and frequent daydreaming often take me elsewhere. But then I’ll look up and spot an Irish flag in the distance or take off my headphones and hear the unmistakable lilt of an Irish accent. In those moments, I’m reminded of just how magical it is that I ended up here.