First months of Ylja supervised consumption site show great need

The Ylja supervised consumption site opened at Borgartún 5 in August 2024, after a lengthy search for suitable space. Before that, it temporarily operated as a pilot project in a specially equipped vehicle, and Sigríður Ella Jónsdóttir, team leader for harm reduction projects at the Red Cross, says that period clearly showed the significant need. Right away, it primarily served individuals struggling with severe and complex problems, who have been using for a long time and have neither homes nor other safe shelter.

Ylja is a safe place for individuals to inject drugs. There's also a smoking room where individuals can smoke opioids or stimulants under professional supervision. Ylja provides low-threshold services based on harm reduction principles. Professionals provide the services along with support, education and counseling. "Ylja is a sanctuary for our most marginalized individuals. Here people get safe shelter as well as clean equipment, health services, psychological support and services they have a right to but haven't necessarily had access to until now. We're lowering the barriers to services, which are often impossible for people in this situation to overcome," says Sigríður Ella.

Rannveig Einarsdóttir, Director of Welfare, is pleased that the contracts have been renewed and is happy with the collaboration with the Red Cross. "Good work is being done at Ylja and the services provided there have proven their worth. Important experience and knowledge are developing there that benefits individuals in extremely vulnerable situations," says Rannveig.

Valuable to experience safety and respect

Sigríður Ella says people experience safety at the supervised consumption site, which is welcome since their lives are typically marked by great insecurity. "Many people are grateful to be able to come here rather than being in parking garages, inside some storage space or in public restrooms. Using in those places can be life-threatening, for example in case of overdose, and people aren't welcome there either. Here at Ylja people are welcome, and you can't underestimate the impact of that. It's valuable to have a sanctuary where you're welcomed with warmth and respect. We've heard that people experience dignity and hope here. That's valuable in the harsh world many of them live in."

"Here at Ylja people are welcome, and you can't underestimate the impact of that."

In 2025, 190 individuals have used Ylja's services with a total of 1,798 visits. The average age of service users is 38 years.

Valuable collaboration that needs strengthening

Three staff members are always on duty at Ylja, including one healthcare worker. In addition, a nurse from Landspítali Hospital's infectious disease unit has a regular presence there three times a week, and staff from the VoR team (Reykjavík City's Outreach and Advisory Team) come daily. "Collaboration between systems and between different professionals is invaluable and absolutely key to the operation. The collaboration with Landspítali Hospital is especially important, because it matters greatly that the group seeking help here can receive health services here. This year, nearly 600 health-related cases have been recorded here among almost 200 individuals. Psychosocial support has been provided in 90% of cases, which is a significant part of the services. We're grateful for the collaboration with Landspítali Hospital and would like to see it strengthened even further."

The contracts were extended for one year. Reykjavík City bears no cost for the contract with the Red Cross to operate the supervised consumption site, as Icelandic Health Insurance funds the operation, totaling 57.2 million króna.

Ylja is open all weekdays from 10am to 4pm. The phone number there is 774-2957.