Dear Friends,
The overdose crisis has reached historic levels in New York City. In 2022, drug poisonings claimed 3,026 lives in the city, a 12% increase over the prior year.
Roughly 80% of overdose deaths in the city involve fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is 100 times more potent than morphine. Illicit fentanyl, primarily manufactured in foreign clandestine labs and smuggled into the United States, is being distributed across the country and sold on the illegal drug market. Because of its potency and low cost, drug dealers have been mixing fentanyl with recreational drugs, such as cocaine, increasing the likelihood of accidental overdose. Users are often unaware that the drugs they are purchasing contain fentanyl.
Public health experts strongly support harm reduction tools such as fentanyl test strips and naloxone (Narcan) as crucial components of efforts to address the opioid crisis. Fentanyl test strips are used to detect the presence of fentanyl in drugs, helping individuals make more informed decisions about drug use and potentially preventing accidental overdoses. Narcan is an opioid antagonist medication that can rapidly reverse opioid overdose and save lives when administered promptly.
Our office will help distribute free fentanyl test strips and Narcan kits this Wednesday, June 26 at the LGBT Center at 208 West 13th Street, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you can call or text the 988 Lifeline, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Let’s all remember to make safety our top priority during Pride Month and throughout the year.
Yours in service,
