The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), New York City elected officials, Samaritan Daytop Village (SDV), and those impacted by the overdose crisis in the United States, today marked International Overdose Awareness Day with a special event that honored those who have been lost to overdoses, and celebrated those who live in recovery.
The commemoration was held at SDV’s Richard Pruss Wellness Center in The Bronx, a state-of-the-art facility that provides a holistic approach to care for clients with behavioral health needs including substance use programs, peer-based recovery services, and primary medical care. Participants highlighted the ongoing global campaign to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died from overdose, and acknowledge the grief of those that loved them.
“The opioid and overdose crisis is sweeping the nation and the world, and we must continue to do all we can to continue to save lives, and bring much needed healthcare, support and resources to those impacted. There is healing and hope, as we at SDV prove it daily here at the Richard Pruss Wellness Center, and the multiple facilities in our network,” said Mitchell Netburn, President & CEO of Samaritan Daytop Village, one of the largest not-for-profit human services agencies in New York, with more than 60 locations across NYC and beyond.
Netburn welcomed the speakers, which included HHS Regional Director Dr. Dara Kass, NY State Senators Natalia Fernandez and Luis Sepulveda, NYC, and Deputy Bronx Borough President Janet Peguero. Dominic Dupont, nephew of the late actor Michael K. Williams, who was a Daytop Village client and died of an overdose in 2021 at age 54, presented keynote remarks. Other individuals who have lived through the opioid crisis, and survived overdose shared their testimony.
U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres, who represents New York’s 15th Congressional District, said: “According to the CDC, nearly 110,000 people died from drug overdoses in the United States last year. These tragedies not only impact families but also health systems, caregivers and families, and entire communities. International Overdose Awareness Day is a time to come together to remember those we’ve lost, raise awareness about the need for more resources to support those struggling with mental health and addiction, and to recognize all the organizations and providers on the front lines working to end this epidemic.”
Dr. Dara Kass, HHS Regional Director, said: “Addressing the overdose crisis is a top priority at HHS, and our Overdose Prevention Strategy focuses on primary prevention, harm reduction, evidence-based treatment, and recovery support, but we could not move the needle without our partners on the ground like Samaritan Daytop Village.”
NY State Senator Natalia Fernandez, who represents the 34th District and is the chairperson of the State Senate’s Alcoholism and Substance Use Disorders Committee, said: “Overdose Awareness Day aims to help combat the stigma that surrounds drug-related deaths and acknowledge the grief felt by those who have lost someone as the result of an overdose. But we cannot simply stop at awareness. We must mobilize the necessary resources to combat this epidemic. We need increased funding to support initiatives aimed at preventing overdoses, expanding treatment options, and providing support to individuals and families affected by addiction. Investment in research, treatment programs, and community-based organizations is crucial for our success.”
NY State Senator Luis Sepúlveda, who represents The Bronx’s 32nd District, said: "Awareness is always the first step toward finding effective solutions to a crisis. We need everyone to clearly understand that the overdose crisis in the country, and worldwide, is real and serious, and it is rampantly causing death and suffering. Today, we honor the memory of those who have died, and we rally behind the survivors and their families, and the dedicated health, recovery, and intervention organizations that are making a difference. We will continue to make sure that funding, and much needed resources to alleviate and end the opioids and overdose crisis, remain a top priority at all levels."
Dominic Dupont emphasized: “My uncle was an amazing human being. Upon his shocking passing, I felt the responsibility of speaking about the dangers of opioids and overdose, so that no one, nor you or someone you love, have to untimely die like him, and no other family has to experience the irreparable loss that we have.”
Williams, noted for his work on the HBO television drama The Wire, among other projects, died on September 6, 2021, in an accidental overdose caused by cocaine and heroin that had been laced with fentanyl. Four men were later arrested, and charged with knowingly distributing the lethal substance, and selling it to the unsuspecting actor.
HHS and SDV, with other local agencies, have partnered to provide information to the community about the current efforts to combat the opioid and overdose epidemic, as well as the locally available resources for those in need and their families.
ABOUT HHS:
The mission of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans, by providing for effective health and human services and by fostering sound, sustained advances in the sciences underlying medicine, public health, and social services.
ABOUT SDV:
About Samaritan Daytop Village: What began as one community’s compassionate effort to reach struggling youth, Samaritan Daytop Village has evolved into a comprehensive human services agency with more than 60 locations across NYC and beyond. Samaritan Daytop Village offers a rich array of programs including treatment for substance use, health and mental health services, supportive housing and shelters, peer recovery services, and specialized programs for veterans, adolescents, seniors and families.
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