Once again, public officials are attempting to create an illusion of public action (“Mass. plans centers to monitor users after overdose,’’ Page A1, Dec. 25). Programs like Supportive Place for Observation and Treatment, or SPOT, provide a service, but anyone who works there will tell you it reaches almost none of those most vulnerable to the current (often fatal) overdose crisis.

All across the world, safe consumption facilities are the proven and effective way to engage and bring hope to those struggling with substance use disorder. Volumes of peer-reviewed public health and medical literature demonstrate the efficacy of these facilities, but our elected officials lack the courage to challenge their own (and their constituents’) bigoted ideas about who people who use drugs are and what will help them.

Safe consumption facilities save lives, increase participation in treatment, and reduce numerous costly injection- related health problems. But the facts aren’t important on Beacon Hill. So more people will die, and develop injection-related infections (including HIV), all preventable, while Governor Baker and the state Legislature fail to act.

Jim Stewart

Cambridge

The writer is director of the First Church Shelter and founder and steering committee member of SIFMA Now, which advocates for safe consumption facilities.