#overdose-prevention

#overdose-prevention

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene announced the expansion of its peer-led overdose prevention program, Relay, to a 16th location at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center. Data indicate a declining trend in overdose deaths, with 441 confirmed cases reported in the early months of 2025-the lowest since 2020. This follows a decrease from 3,056 deaths in 2023 to 2,192 in 2024, according to the City of New York.

To protect your privacy, you'll be asked to pick a code name-favourite movie characters or favourite foods are popular choices. If it's your first visit, you'll do a brief intake at the welcome desk, where staff will ask if you have any medical conditions or have had any bad drug reactions. They'll also ask which drug you're using that day, and whether you'd like the substance checked to confirm that you're consuming what you think you're consuming.

The Trump administration on Tuesday evening unexpectedly canceled up to $1.9bn in funding for substance use and mental health care, which providers say will immediately affect thousands of patients. It feels like Armageddon for everyone who's on the frontlines of the addiction and mental health space, said Ryan Hampton, founder of Mobilize Recovery, a national advocacy organization for people in and seeking recovery.

On the night TJ McGee overdosed from a mixture of drugs and alcohol in his freshman year at UC Berkeley, his friends found him passed out in the hallway by their shared dorm room. The roommates tried to help, but when McGee stopped breathing, they called 911. McGee survived and, racked with guilt over what happened that night, committed to confronting his substance-use problem.

"Having free public health supplies available to residents seven days a week through the self-service Community Health Stations makes it easier to access important products that support health and save lives," said Barbara Ferrer, director of the county public health department.

Dorsey said both recovery and harm reduction have a role to play. But in the years-long battle to reduce overdose deaths and outdoor drug use, these two camps have become political lightning rods.