Overdose prevention centers are designed to help curb the nation’s drug epidemic, which has taken more than 100,000 lives in the past year. It gives addicts space to use illegal drugs safely with trained staff standing by to help if they overdose.

The U.S. has two such centers, one of which is located in New York City’s East Harlem neighborhood. Sam Rivera is the executive director of the OnPoint NYC facility — and a guardian angel to many struggling with addiction.

Watch the video and read the corresponding article at CBS News