Legislation Aims to Reduce Opioid Overdoses by Expanding Access to Narcan and Overdose Prevention Tools at NYC Clubs, Bars
New York City Mayor Eric Adams today signed Intro 56, legislation aimed at reducing fatal overdoses by providing free naloxone kits of Narcan to nightlife establishments in New York City to administer in the case of an opioid overdose. Naloxone is a safe medication that can be used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. At a time when yet to be released overdose deaths from 2021 are expected to exceed 2020, which saw the highest number of overdoses since record keeping began, this bill will put lifesaving tools into the hands of more New Yorkers and train them on how to save lives. With the implementation of this legislation, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) will strengthen its collaboration with the Mayor’s Office of Nightlife and conduct regular overdose response trainings for nightlife venues to ensure that participating staff are equipped to respond to potential overdoses on-site. This bill is part of a larger strategy the city is pursuing to reduce opioid overdoses, including launching the first-in-the-nation overdose prevention centers.
“The overdose crisis has been inflicting pain and heartache on our city for too long, so now is the time to take action,” said Mayor Adams. “One of our city’s residents loses their life to an overdose every three hours, so it is essential we use every tool in our arsenal to tackle this crisis. By providing Narcan kits to New York City nightlife establishments and educating staff on how to use it in the event of an overdose, we will save lives, and build a healthier, safer city for all. We have lost too many New Yorkers to overdoses and too many families and communities have been torn apart, and while this law will not bring back those we have lost, if it can save a single life it is worth it.”
“The city must work to support every New Yorker struggling with substance use issues,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “Today’s announcement is another novel way that we are working to support the community in that effort. Thank you to our government partners and thank you to all our nightlife establishments poised to participate in this program. It is through coordinated support that we will be able to reach our fellow New Yorkers in need.”
“The frank reality is that fentanyl is in the drug supply and it is present in heroin as well as other drugs, such as cocaine,” said DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “That means the person who is using may not anticipate the presence of opioids and those around them may not be ready to respond to an opioid overdose. Having people around who can respond — including our partners in the nightlife industry — can save lives. Moreover, it is a message: As New Yorkers, we look out for each other, and we care.”
“The safety and well-being of the nightlife community is a top priority for the Mayor’s Office of Nightlife. Because of this, we created the Narcan Behind Every Bar program with DOHMH to provide venues, staff, and security with free, life-saving training and overdose rescue kits,” said Ariel Palitz, executive director, New York City Mayor’s Office of Nightlife. “While the fentanyl crisis is not an issue exclusive to nightlife, we know that venues are places where people can look out for and protect each other. We thank Councilmember Chi Ossé and the City Council for their partnership and commitment to addressing this crisis with us, and look forward to continuing our work while implementing this legislation.”
New York City continues to expand initiatives to address the overdose crisis. These include the nation’s first Overdose Prevention Centers, overdose awareness campaigns, expanded access to fentanyl test strips, expanded syringe service outreach and drop-in center operations, and a drug-checking pilot that uses spectrometer technology to identify the presence of a wide range of substances, including fentanyl, in drug samples brought in by program participants.
These efforts to increase the scope and impact of harm reduction services citywide come at a critical moment. In the third quarter of 2021 (July through September), there were 709 unintentional drug overdose deaths in New York City, compared to 552 deaths during the same period in 2020. The third quarter of 2021 had the highest number of overdose deaths in a single quarter compared with any quarter on record. DOHMH expects the number of overdose deaths in 2021 to exceed those in 2020, which saw the highest number of overdoses in New York City since records began in 2000.
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