(ABC 6 News) – In 2023, Minnesota lawmakers opened the door to create supervised injection spaces across the state.

Under the new law, recovery sites would include needle exchanges, drug testing and supervised injection spaces; a place for medical professionals to monitor people who use drugs to minimize the chance of overdose.

“We work to reduce overdose deaths and the transmission of HIV and other infections related to drug use and living outside,” said one healthcare professional. “It impacts every community.”

But now, the Minnesota Department of Human Services says safe recovery sites will not initially include supervised injection spaces.

According to the DHS, federal law prohibits the department from creating these spaces.

The department added they are committed to making supervised injection spaces a reality because they “have been found to be highly effective in saving lives.“