The U.S. state of Rhode Island is planning to open supervised spaces for drug users to inject illegal drugs like heroin and methamphetamine in an effort to help them by providing a safe space, the Wall Street Journal reported this week.

The two-year pilot program to create safe injection sites will allow trained staff to administer the antidote naloxone to stop users from overdosing.

Rhode Island is the first state in the U.S. to open a supervised injection facility. California and Massachusetts are also considering similar pilot programs.

Those in support of the injection sites say that having a safe space to take drugs could prevent overdose deaths and provide an access point for other services like housing, medical care and treatment, the WSJ reported.

Those opposed to the sites say there is no evidence they would significantly reduce illegal drug use or dependency.

Advocates say that Rhode Island's law is the most direct test of whether or not legal-consumption sites can reduce overdose deaths and harm to drug users.

Meanwhile, Politico reported that the New York City health department is "moving aggressively" to approve at least two supervised injection facilities to prevent overdose deaths.

Nearly 3,000 people across New York died from overdose in 2018, according to the latest numbers from the state health department.