MAYOR ADAMS HOLDS VIRTUAL BRIEFING TO DISCUSS HEAVY RAINFALL AND ONGOING FLOODING

 

Mayor Eric Adams: Thank you, Fabien, and the entire team, and New Yorkers for understanding how this rain conditions that we are experiencing is something that we cannot take lightly and we have not taken lightly. This morning, I was out visiting East New York, Flatbush, Canarsie and Sheepshead Bay to get a firsthand look at the impact of the rainfall and what it is doing to moving around the city.

 

I spoke with Governor Hochul who's here with us today. I want to thank you, governor, for once again responding immediately seeking out whatever help we need as a city, and I really appreciate communicating with you this morning.

 

I am issuing a State of Emergency for New York City based on the weather conditions and I want to say to all New Yorkers this is time for heightened alertness and extreme caution. If you're at home, stay home. If you are at work or school, shelter in place for now. Some of our subways are flooded and it's extremely difficult to move around the city.

 

Many of our area airports are experiencing delays, and if you are out and encounter a flooded area be it on a roadway or a subway station, do not enter. Take necessary precautions. This is a dangerous weather condition and it is not over. And I don't want those gaps and heavy rain to give the appearance that it is over, it is not. We could possibly see eight inches of rain before the day is over.

 

Our city has already taken action to protect all New Yorkers including rescuing those in need of help. There was an issue on the Belt Parkway by the Ocean Parkway exit. Those are the types of roadway conditions we're asking New Yorkers to avoid.

 

Every single one of our agencies has an emergency plan and we are executing those plans. We're ready, and you should be as well, to be prepared for this moment. Commissioner Iscol from New York City Emergency Management will provide more detailed updates to us on the situation throughout the city.

 

This is the time for caution, but is also a time for community. Check on neighbors, do what whatever is possible to unclog the drain areas to allow the water to flow freely. You would be surprised how if we remove leaves and other trash from those areas it will really assist in getting the water off our streets.

 

Check on your friends and relatives, and especially those who are most vulnerable such as the elderly and individuals with health conditions. If the conditions are safe, take time, as I indicated, to clean out the debris from your drains, particularly in between the heavy rainfall.

 

And for the most accurate and timely updates, sign up for NotifyNYC. This is a moment to remind everyone of how important NotifyNYC is. Those alerts go a long way to keep you ahead of what is happening. You could dial 311 or visit nyc.gov/notify to subscribe. That's nyc.gov/notify to subscribe, and you could also call 311.

 

Being informed is the first step toward ensuring the well being of you and your family and your fellow New Yorkers. And again, I want to thank the entire team for their quick response and understanding that this is an extreme emergency, extreme emergency condition that we must be prepared for.

 

I want to turn it over to Governor Hochul. Governor, again, thanks so much. It was good talking to you this morning, and your quick response to what is happening in our city, I really appreciate it.

 

New York Governor Kathy Hochul: Well, thank you, mayor; and once again, I commend your leadership. And the coordination between our team and our team at the state level, it is seamless. And the bottom line is we're here to help New Yorkers get through what is a life threatening rainfall event.

 

And I agree with you that people should be able to stay home if possible but I know right now there's a lot of anxious parents wondering if they're going to be able to get their children home from schools.

 

And I'm working very closely with Janno Lieber who will give updates from the MTA, but our priority once the immediate...in the immediate aftermath of this first wave of the storm — and again, it could come back again, it could reemerge later again this afternoon — we want to make sure we get the subways, the trains, our communication system, our transportation system up working, because there's children who use the subways to get home from school. People need to be able to now if they can get home from work. And so that is priority number one, to make sure that our subways and our rail systems are safe.

 

There has been significant disruptions, without a doubt, particularly heading north. I just spoke to the County Executive George Latimer of Westchester County. The epicenter has shifted from the city regions very much so from Brooklyn and Queens and Manhattan where I spoke to the borough presidents to offer our assistance, in the Bronx, but is now heading north into the Hudson Valley. So, we're also coordinating with those localities as well as Nassau County.

 

I will say this. If people decide to venture out in a vehicle, they do so at their own peril, because even six inches of rain, one foot of rain, it may look pretty innocuous, it's safe, but that is a condition where your vehicle can be swept away. And we lose more lives of people during flooding events — of which we've had many, especially this summer in the city and the Hudson Valley in particular.

 

The reason we lose our lives in a flood event more often than not is they're swept away in their vehicle. So, this is a choice people make. We encourage them not to decide to do that. Please stay home, be safe. We are deploying more buses. We have more bus operators to be able to create options if we don't get the subways back on schedule.

 

The airports, right now Terminal A at LaGuardia is closed because of flooding at a fuel field right now. We've brought in more resources from JFK to assist with that as well. The flights are going in and out of the airports but they are delayed, and so people should check on the websites for that as well.

 

Now, also we're trying to be as helpful as we can, and City Mayor, you've been fantastic, and we've deployed National Guard, we've deployed more pumps from our surplus to help you assist. And everyone remembers what happened, I was literally governor one week when Hurricane Ida hit and we walked those streets of Queens and many parts of the city, and people literally drowned in their basement homes.

 

And so people also need to not get in vehicles, but leave your home if you're starting to see water accumulate. Don't wait until it's up to your knees or higher. By then, it could be a barrier to getting able to have access safely out the door, as we saw before. And so people really need to be taking this extremely seriously.

 

The state is there to help, and we'll get through this together as we always do. So, thank you, mayor for your coordination, your outreach. I look forward to continue to work as we get through this event united as one.

DEC ANNOUNCES UPCOMING HUNTING SEASONS FOR DEER AND BEAR

 

Youth Big Game Hunt Coming Columbus/Indigenous Peoples’ Day Weekend

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced that bowhunting seasons for deer and bear will begin in the Northern Zone on Wednesday, Sept. 27 and in the Southern Zone on Sunday, Oct. 1.

“New York State is home to great opportunities for bowhunters to venture afield in a variety of habitats,” said Commissioner Seggos. “With mild weather and longer days, the early bow season is an ideal time to be in the woods and introduce new hunters to deer and bear hunting."

Bowhunters may use a crossbow during the last 10 days of the Northern Zone bow season (Oct. 11-20); and the last 14 days of the Southern Zone bow season (Nov. 4-17). This season is open to bowhunters who possess a muzzleloader privilege and a crossbow qualifications certificate as required by law (see the Crossbow Hunting webpage on DEC's website for details).

Additionally, early muzzleloader season for deer and bear in the Northern Zone begins Oct. 14, and continues through Oct. 20. The regular firearms season for deer and bear in the Northern Zone commences on Oct. 21.

Youth Big Game Hunt

New York's annual Youth Big Game Hunt occurs on Columbus/Indigenous Peoples’ Day weekend, Oct. 7-9 for 12-15-year-old hunters. This Youth Big Game Hunt takes place throughout the State, except in Suffolk and Westchester counties and bowhunting-only areas. Following legislation passed in 2021, 12- and 13-year-old hunters may hunt deer with a firearm during the youth hunt and other firearms seasons in upstate counties that have passed a local law allowing their participation. Currently, the list of counties that have passed such a local law includes all counties north of Westchester, with the exception of Erie and Rockland counties. During the Youth Big Game Hunt, licensed 12- to 15-year-olds may use a firearm to hunt big game while accompanied by an experienced, licensed adult hunter. All eligible junior hunters may take one deer of either sex and 14- and 15-year-olds may also take one bear. During the youth hunt, antlerless deer taken with a firearm may be tagged with a regular season tag, Deer Management Permit (DMP), or a Deer Management Assistance Program tag. Antlered deer may only be tagged with the regular season tag. Though junior hunters may have multiple deer tags, they may only take one deer with a firearm during the Youth Big Game Hunt.

Additional rules that apply to junior hunters and their adult mentors can be found on pages 36 and 37 of the Hunting and Trapping Guide or through the Junior Hunter Mentoring Program.

Deer Management Permit Application Deadline Oct. 1

DEC reminds hunters that the application deadline for Deer Management Permits (DMPs) is Oct. 1. Hunters should be prepared with the Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) they intend to hunt prior to applying. The DMP Availability and Probability of Selection webpage has more information regarding DMP availability and chances of being selected in each WMU.

Take it, Tag it, Report it!

DEC also reminds hunters of the importance of reporting their harvest. Harvest reporting is critical to wildlife management, and hunters are required to report their harvest of deer, bear, and turkey within seven days of taking the animal. The easiest way to report is via DEC’s HuntFishNY mobile app. Through this mobile app, hunters, anglers, and trappers can access an electronic version of their licenses and privileges, and report the harvest of deer, bear, and turkey immediately while afield on their mobile device. It takes only seconds. Hunters may still use the phone report system, but the online and mobile systems are fast, convenient, and easy for hunters to accurately enter information.

Protect New York Deer and Moose from Chronic Wasting Disease

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) continues to spread in other states, and hunters have great responsibility to prevent CWD introduction to New York. CWD is always fatal to deer. If introduced, CWD could spread rapidly and be practically impossible to eliminate once established. Hunters can help protect New York’s deer herd from CWD by following these tips:

• If you hunt any type of deer, elk, moose, or caribou outside of New York, you must debone your animal before bringing it back. DEC will confiscate and destroy illegally imported carcasses and parts;
• Avoid deer urine-based lures or attractant scents, as these could contain infectious material. If you use lures, use synthetics;
• Dispose of carcass waste in a landfill, not just out on the landscape;
• Report any deer that appears sick or acting abnormally; and
• Hunt only wild deer and support fair chase hunting principles.

NYC COUNCIL PASSES PUBLIC ADVOCATE’S BILL TO REQUIRE DYSLEXIA SCREENING IN CITY JAILS

 

The New York City Council voted overwhelmingly today to pass legislation from Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams to require dyslexia screenings for people incarcerated in city jails. The measure will help to expand educational and health services, improve programming inside city jails, and reduce recidivism upon release. 

Identifying and providing services to incarcerated individuals with dyslexia is a critical effort. The learning disability affects about 15% of people nationwide, but seen at dramatically higher rates in jails and prisons, and is thought to be a contributing factor to both initial contact with the criminal justice system and recidivism rates. 

Intro 349-A will require the Department of Education to screen all incarcerated people who do not have a high school diploma or its equivalent for dyslexia within 72 hours of intake, beginning with those under the age of 22 before expanding to all incarcerated people. They will then be required to offer evidence-based programs to treat identified individuals. 

"Rikers remains in crisis, and the foundations on which the system was built were not designed to truly support the needs or well-being of people on the inside. Dyslexia is already under-discussed- and likely under-diagnosed- in our city, and evidence suggests that this problem is exponentially worse among incarcerated people. By screening and servicing affected individuals, we can help correct an educational services gap that should have been addressed long ago, providing new opportunities for people on the inside and helping to prevent them from re-entering the criminal justice system in the future," said Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams. "Identifying and addressing dyslexia and illiteracy through trained educators will make time while incarcerated more positive, and employment after incarceration more accessible. If we had done a better job as a city of meeting this need early in New Yorkers' education, we may have prevented many people from contact with the system in the first place. I thank the Speaker and my colleagues on the Council for voting to enact this key legislation."

Dyslexia is a major contributing factor to illiteracy, which in turn is often correlated to contact with the criminal justice system. While studies vary, data has shown that as many as one third to half of incarcerated people in some prisons may struggle with dyslexia. As many as 80% may have difficulty with reading comprehension.

The federal First Step Act of 2018 requires dyslexia screening in federal prisons, and this legislation would not only extend that to municipal jails but provide programming to address this critical need. Addressing dyslexia while incarcerated would help New Yorkers to secure employment upon their release, a cause which the Public Advocate has also advanced through the Fair Chance Act and its expansion. A recent study found that incarcerated people who took part in education programs were 43 percent less likely to commit crimes following their time incarcerated. 

Housing Lottery Launches For 92 West 169th Street In Highbridge, The Bronx

 

The affordable housing lottery has launched for 92 West 169th Street, a four-story residential building in Highbridge, The Bronx. Designed by Boaz M. Golani Architect and developed by Isra Holdings, the structure yields 38 residences. Available on NYC Housing Connect are 12 units for residents at 130 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $76,663 to $198,250.

Units include name-brand kitchen appliances and finishes, large windows, and hardwood floors. Tenants are responsible for electricity.

At 130 percent of the AMI, there are six studios with a monthly rent of $2,236 for incomes ranging from $76,663 to $146,900; four one-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $2,275 for incomes ranging from $78,000 to $165,230; and two two-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $3,773 for incomes ranging from $129,360 to $198,250.

Prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than October 17, 2023.

NYC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ISSUES TRAVEL ADVISORY FOR FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 30

A Flood Watch is in effect citywide from 2 a.m. Friday through 6 a.m. Saturday

 

Flash flooding from excessive rain is possible

The New York City Emergency Management Department has issued a travel advisory for Friday, September 29 through Saturday morning, September 30. The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for New York City beginning at 2 a.m. Friday through 6 a.m. Saturday. According to the latest National Weather Service forecast, heavy rain is expected citywide beginning as early as 2 a.m. Friday through tomorrow night. Citywide average rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches are forecast, with locally higher amounts in excess of 5 inches possible. Persistent heavy rainfall may result in numerous flash floods. The excessive rain runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Potential street flooding may also occur. Widespread travel impacts are possible, particularly during the morning commute tomorrow. There are no significant winds hazards or thunderstorms expected.

 

"We are on high alert for heavy rainfall and the looming threat of flooding from early morning Friday into Saturday,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “Our emergency response teams are standing by to address any issues that may arise and while we are working closely with them to minimize disruptions, we urge all New Yorkers to take necessary precautions, especially during the morning commute. New Yorkers can stay informed by signing up for emergency notifications at NYC.gov/NotifyNYC or by calling 311. If you live in a basement apartment in a flood prone area, be prepared to move to higher ground if the need arises. Let's come together as a city, check on our neighbors, and make sure we weather this storm safely.”

 

“New York City will be under a flood watch starting tomorrow and we urge New Yorkers to prepare for heavy rain and potential flooding throughout Friday and Saturday morning,” said NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol. “All New Yorkers need to exercise caution. If you must travel, consider using public transportation and allow for extra travel time, and if you must drive, do not enter flooded roadways. If you live in a basement apartment, especially in a flood prone area, be prepared to move to higher ground.”

 

NYC Emergency Management and its partners have activated the Flash Flood Plan and are working with the National Weather Service to monitor conditions. Crews from the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Transportation are inspecting and cleaning catch basins in neighborhoods and roads vulnerable to flooding. For access to timely and accurate updates, New Yorkers should sign up for the City’s emergency alert system Notify NYC and follow NYC Emergency Management on social media.

   

Safety Tips

  

• Allow for extra travel time. New Yorkers are urged to use public transportation. 
• If you must drive, drive slowly. Use major streets or highways for travel whenever possible. 
• If you live in a basement apartment in a flood prone area, prepare to move to higher ground.
• Do not drive into flooded streets or enter flooded subway stations.
• Check on friends, relatives, and neighbors, especially older adults and people with disabilities, access and functional needs, or health conditions. Help them to prepare if needed.
• Stay informed. Before and during an emergency, the City will send emergency alerts and updates to New Yorkers through various channels, including Notify NYC. Sign up for emergency notifications at NYC.gov/NotifyNYC or call 311. You can also follow @NotifyNYC on Twitter.

  

For more safety tips, visit NYC.gov/SevereWeather. New Yorkers are also encouraged to sign up for Notify NYC, the City’s free emergency notification system, to stay informed about the latest weather updates and other emergencies. Notify NYC is available in 14 languages including American Sign Language. To learn more about the Notify NYC program or to sign up, visit NYC.gov/NotifyNYC, call 311, or download the free app for your Android or Apple device. You can also follow @NotifyNYC on Twitter.

  

VCJC News & Notes 9/29/23

 

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center
News and Notes

Here's this week's edition of the VCJC News and Notes email. We hope you enjoy it and find it useful!

Reminders

1. Shabbos & Sukkot
   
   

   Shabbos information is, as always, available on our website, both in the information sidebar and the events calendar.
   Here are the times you need:  
   Shabbos Candles Friday 9/29/23 @ 6:23 pm

   Mincha/Maariv 6:30 pm
   

   Shabbos morning services at 8:40 am. 
   Mincha/Maariv 6:15 pm
   
   
   Candlelighting 9/30/23 after 7:25 pm

2. Sukkot, Day 2, Sunday 10/1/23
   Shacharit  8:40 am
   Mincha/Maariv 6:25 pm

   Yom Tov ends 7:23 pm

    

3. Yizkor
   Yizkor was said on Monday, Yom Kippur.
   It is customary to make a charitable donation in conjunction with Yizkor.  If you wish to donate to VCJC as part of your Yizkor observance, it can be done in person at the office, by check, or online through our website
   There will be another Yizkor on Shemini Atzeret, Sat. 10/7.  

4. Lloyd Ultan Lecture 10/15/23
   Bronx Historian Emeritus,  Prof. Lloyd Ultan will give a talk on The Historic Ethnic Diversity of the Bronx.  (see below).  Please plan on joining us!  So that we can properly prepare, please let us know if you plan to attend via email.

Our mailing address is:

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center

3880 Sedgwick Ave

Bronx, NY 10463

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on Extreme Weather

Governor Hochul: “My team and I have been monitoring the storm trajectory all day long. And the reality we have to deal with is this is our new normal. Once again, extreme weather is back, and now we've been upgraded to the fact that we'll have a 70 percent chance of flash flooding.”

Hochul: “It is going to result in havoc throughout the Downstate region – Long Island, New York City, the Hudson Valley. We could have anywhere from three to five inches of rain, one inch an hour. And that may not sound like a lot, but if you are driving on a road and you start to see the water puddling on the street, you need to get off the road immediately.”

The Governor urged New Yorkers today to prepare for heavy rainfall and potential flash flooding beginning overnight Thursday and continuing through Friday night in the Hudson Valley, New York City, and Long Island regions.

The current forecast predicts a widespread two to three inches of rain and locally heavy rainfall of five inches or more is possible, with rainfall rates reaching one inch per hour. These conditions may cause flash flooding in low-lying, flood-prone areas and areas that recently experienced heavy rainfall. In the event of flash flooding, commutes would be impacted on Friday. Governor Hochul urged New Yorkers to pay close attention to the forecast and changing conditions, and her administration stands ready to respond to extreme weather impacts in affected areas.

My team and I have been monitoring the storm trajectory all day long. And the reality we have to deal with is this is our new normal. Once again, extreme weather is back, and now we've been upgraded to the fact that we'll have a 70 percent chance of flash flooding. And what that means is, the land, the ground is very saturated already from the previous rain. And so, it will not be able to absorb the rain.

It is going to result in havoc throughout the Downstate region – Long Island, New York City, the Hudson Valley. We could have anywhere from three to five inches of rain, one inch an hour. And that may not sound like a lot, but if you are driving on a road and you start to see the water puddling on the street, you need to get off the road immediately.

It could be dangerous. We've had circumstances as recently as this summer where vehicles were swept away. And also in our homes, we've had literally houses washed away. So I just wanted people to know we're preparing. Our state watch center is monitoring the weather. Thruway Authority and DOT, we already have 2,000 pieces of equipment and staff ready to go.

And utility workers, if the power lines come down, as often happens during these events, we'll have over 5,500 utility workers ready. And the MTA and Port Authority are ready throughout the system to target the at-risk stations. And so, that's what's going on right now. Again, we're getting used to the rain, but this could quickly morph into a life threatening, dangerous event, and I wanted to prepare New Yorkers for that possibility.

 

MAYOR ADAMS TO HOST SUMMIT ON FENTANYL CRISIS IN AMERICA

 

Two-Day Summit Will Focus on Education, Enforcement, Prevention and Treatment to Develop National Strategy to Combat Fentanyl Overdoses

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced plans to host elected leaders, public health officials, and law enforcement professionals from across the country in New York City next week for a summit on the fentanyl crisis in America. The two-day summit will include strategy sessions focused on education, enforcement, awareness, prevention, and treatment with the goal of developing a national strategy to combat the scourge of fentanyl.

 

Fentanyl is now the most common drug involved in overdose deaths in New York City, including the death of a one-year-old boy in the Bronx earlier this month. Drug overdoses killed 2,668 individuals in New York City in 2021 — a 78 percent increase since 2019 — with fentanyl detected in 80 percent of those deaths.

 

“From the farms of small-town America to the sidewalks of the biggest city in the country, we see the effects of addiction and the danger of fentanyl across this entire nation,” said Mayor Adams. “As opioid use skyrockets, illegal drugs are often contaminated with fentanyl or other dangerous substances, and overdoses have hit historic levels, including in New York City. Last year was the worst year on record for overdose deaths in our nation’s history. We cannot allow this crisis to continue taking lives and destroying communities. Together, we will work to develop a national framework to prevent fatal overdoses, get treatment to people who need it, enhance enforcement efforts, and increase educational outreach to save lives, dreams, and families.”

 

“The opioid overdose crisis persists to be one of the greatest public health issues of our time,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “This summit will offer opportunities to exchange ideas with key local leaders in public health and in law enforcement from around the country and ultimately help us chart a path forward to help New Yorkers and all Americans affected by this issue.”

 

“We can’t lose sight of the fact that behind every overdose statistic, there’s a person who deserved to live, a shattered family, and a community in pain,” said Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks III. “That’s why it is essential that we approach the fentanyl crisis not just as a problem to solve but as a collective responsibility. With this summit, the Adams administration is bringing together the right people to figure out what pieces of the puzzle are missing, from harm reduction and treatment efforts to going after the people responsible for putting this poison on our streets.”

 

“Overdoses affect all of us, and fentanyl is driving the overdose epidemic in New York City and across the nation,” said New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “New York City has set ambitious goals and taken bold and innovative action to reduce overdose deaths. But all of us are grappling with fentanyl and how it challenges all of our public health efforts. We look forward to sharing and learning from other jurisdictions on how we can save American lives.”

 

“The fentanyl crisis has impacted every neighborhood in our nation,” said New York City Police Department Commissioner Edward A. Caban. “Along with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, the NYPD is committed to ridding our streets of illegal drugs and holding those who would peddle this poison fully accountable under the law. We are also eager to be a part of this summit, and to share in the many innovative ways we can keep the people we serve safe. The stakes could not be any higher — and we will never stop fighting for New Yorkers.”

 

“In countless conversations with Mayor Adams and my fellow brother and sister mayors in the U.S. Conference of Mayors, it has become evident that the ongoing opioid epidemic is a shared challenge all major cities are facing,” said New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “In New Orleans, we are fortunate to have all our public safety and health teams working proactively and collaboratively to ensure we have the tools and information necessary to protect our people. The New Orleans Health Department Behavioral Health Unit has been distributing naloxone, or Narcan, directly to the public through outreach programs, and — through our Office of Nighttime Economy — more bars and music venues are training their staff and keeping Narcan on hand. The New Orleans Fire Department and our Emergency Medical Services are also equipped with Narcan kits for the public. By making free doses of Narcan widely available and training the public and city employees on how to properly administer doses, we are doing our part to keep our people safe and end this tragedy.”

 

“Communities across the country are facing a fast-changing drug supply and a dramatic rise in fatal overdoses with each passing year,” said Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney. “In Philadelphia, we are witnessing not only a rise in overdose rates but growing racial disparities as well. My administration is committed to using every available tool for prevention, treatment, and healing, and we look forward to the New York City summit as an opportunity to share with and learn from our colleagues across the U.S. Like any epidemic, the overdose crisis impacts all municipalities, and we must all work together if we are to succeed in saving lives and healing communities.”

 

“As we are seeing deaths related to overdoses reach historic proportions in Laredo, fentanyl has created a public health crisis in every community across the United States,” said Laredo Mayor Dr. Victor Treviño. “From speaking to families in the hospitals devastated by these overdoses, some of the biggest challenges will be to encourage parents to talk to their children about fentanyl-contaminated drugs being marketed to them. Tackling this problem is going to take a binational and society-wide approach.”

 

“We continue to see an unprecedented rate of overdose deaths impacting every community,” said Dr. Siddarth Puri, associate medical director of prevention, Substance Abuse Prevention and Control Bureau, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. “Unintentional fentanyl overdoses are now the leading cause of death among adults aged 18-45. We must be committed to a continuum of approaches to reducing overdoses and helping people across the spectrum of substance use — from those who may be experimenting to those with substance use disorders. Harm reduction is a data-backed approach that reduces overdoses, prevents unnecessary deaths in our communities, and connects those in need with critical services, including treatment.”