What You Can Do To End New York's Overdose Crisis

Panel Discussion & Happy Hour

Thursday, August 24, 2023 at 6:00p - 8:00p

Housing Works Bookstore, 126 Crosby Street, Manhattan

In the build-up to International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, 2023, Housing Works presented What You Can Do To End New York's Overdose Crisis panel and happy hour on Thursday, August 24, 2023, at the Housing Works Bookstore & Cafe, 126 Crosby Street, New York, New York 10012.


helpNYC’s Founder & Executive Director J. RueMel Parkin joined Housing Works for a panel featuring harm reduction experts and people with lived experience, on the state of the overdose crisis in New York and the bold solutions we need to face it.

Moderators

Valerie Reyes-Jimenez, Panel Moderator

New York City Organizer, Housing Works

Kaitlin Abrams, Audience Moderator

New York State Organizer, Housing Works

Panelists

Asia Betancourt

National Overdose Prevention Line

J. RueMel Parkin

Executive Director and Chair, helpNYC Corporation

Richard Perkins

Harm Reduction Specialist, Housing Works

Mario Vergara

Overdose Prevention Counselor, Housing Works
This event was presented by the Housing Works Advocacy Team, please reach out to Kaitlin Abrams at k.abrams@housingworks.org with any questions.

IOAD 2023 March & Rally

Thursday, August 31, 2023 at 10:00a

Foley Square, New York City

Organized by the Housing Works Advocacy Team

On International Overdose Awareness Day helpNYC joined activists with Housing Works in demonstration and civil disobedience outside U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams’ office in Manhattan, demanding Governor Kathy Hochul to authorize overdose prevention centers, to protect and expand this lifesaving resource for New Yorkers. 

This action was organized by the Housing Works Advocacy Team, please reach out to Kaitlin Abrams at k.abrams@housingworks.org with any questions.

Criminalization of Substances Does Not Save Lives

New York’s overdose crisis is at an all-time high, driven by a contaminated supply, COVID-19, stigma, racism, and the War on Drugs. The decades-long drug war has been a war on Black, brown, and poor New Yorkers. Criminalization has fed stigma and isolation, driving people who use drugs away from support and toward the criminal legal system.  


It is clear punitive responses to drug use have not ended overdose, and in fact, have exacerbated the issue. In New York State, we are losing 18 New Yorkers a day from preventable overdose - over 6,000 people each year. In NYC, this rate grows to a life lost every 3 hours.

Harm Reduction Provides Lifesaving Medical Intervention

This insurmountable loss is preventable. In just 18 months of operation, OnPoint's two Overdose Prevention Centers have prevented over 1,000 overdose deaths. It’s clear we need a response to the overdose crisis that meets people where they are, offering harm reduction and preventative health services.

Law Enforcement Cannot Solve a Public Health Crisis

On August 8, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, gave a statement to the New York Times, threatening to take legal action against overdose prevention centers if they are not soon authorized by the Governor. While we condemn his statements, it is Governor Hochul’s inaction on authorizing and funding overdose prevention centers that have put our city in a precarious position in which we must fear that a critical health service may be shut down and those who rely on its services be left to fend for themselves.  


Law enforcement officials like the U.S. Attorney can’t solve a public health crisis, especially without the support of our Governor. We call on Governor Hochul to authorize overdose prevention centers to ensure these facilities are protected against legal intervention and to continue to save the lives of our fellow New Yorkers. 

MARCH WITH US TO SAVE LIVES

On International Overdose Awareness Day, we will meet at Foley Square for a rally. We will then march to the US Attorney Williams' office for a demonstration to demand lifesaving, evidence-based OPCs are authorized and supported by our elected officials, not criminalization.  

Event Photos

In the build-up to International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, 2023, Housing Works presented What You Can Do To End New York's Overdose Crisis panel and happy hour on Thursday, August 24, 2023 at the Housing Works Bookstore & Cafe, 126 Crosby Street, New York, New York 10012. Pictured are panelists (L-R) Mario Vergara, Overdose Prevention Counselor, Housing Works; Asia Betancourt, National Overdose Prevention Line; J. RueMel Parkin, Executive Director and Chair, helpNYC Corporation; panel moderator Valerie Reyes-Jimenez, NYC Organizer, Housing Works; Richard Perkins, Harm Reduction Specialist, Housing Works. Photo: Kaitlin Abrams.

In the build-up to International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, 2023, Housing Works presented What You Can Do To End New York's Overdose Crisis panel and happy hour on Thursday, August 24, 2023 at the Housing Works Bookstore & Cafe, 126 Crosby Street, New York, New York 10012.


Pictured are panelists (L-R) Mario Vergara, Overdose Prevention Counselor, Housing Works; Asia Betancourt, National Overdose Prevention Line; J. RueMel Parkin, Executive Director and Chair, helpNYC Corporation; panel moderator Valerie Reyes-Jimenez, NYC Organizer, Housing Works; Richard Perkins, Harm Reduction Specialist, Housing Works.

Photo: Kaitlin Abrams.

Panelists discuss the importance of Overdose Prevention Centers in New York City and how everyday New Yorkers can help remove the stigma of substance use. In the build-up to International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, 2023, Housing Works presented What You Can Do To End New York's Overdose Crisis panel and happy hour on Thursday, August 24, 2023 at the Housing Works Bookstore & Cafe, 126 Crosby Street, New York, New York 10012. Pictured (L-R): Asia Betancourt, National Overdose Prevention Line; Mario Vergara, Overdose Prevention Counselor, Housing Works; J. RueMel Parkin, Executive Director and Chair, helpNYC Corporation; Richard Perkins, Harm Reduction Specialist, Housing Works; and panel moderator Valerie Reyes-Jimenez, NYC Organizer, Housing Works. Photo: Kaitlin Abrams.

Panelists discuss the importance of Overdose Prevention Centers in New York City and how everyday New Yorkers can help remove the stigma of substance use. 


In the build-up to International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, 2023, Housing Works presented What You Can Do To End New York's Overdose Crisis panel and happy hour on Thursday, August 24, 2023 at the Housing Works Bookstore & Cafe, 126 Crosby Street, New York, New York 10012.


Pictured (L-R): Asia Betancourt, National Overdose Prevention Line; Mario Vergara, Overdose Prevention Counselor, Housing Works; J. RueMel Parkin, Executive Director and Chair, helpNYC Corporation; Richard Perkins, Harm Reduction Specialist, Housing Works; and panel moderator Valerie Reyes-Jimenez, NYC Organizer, Housing Works.  

Photo: Kaitlin Abrams.

Audience members with panelists after the event. In the build-up to International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, 2023, Housing Works presented What You Can Do To End New York's Overdose Crisis panel and happy hour on Thursday, August 24, 2023, at the Housing Works Bookstore & Cafe, 126 Crosby Street, New York, New York 10012.

Audience members with panelists after the event. 


In the build-up to International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, 2023, Housing Works presented What You Can Do To End New York's Overdose Crisis panel and happy hour on Thursday, August 24, 2023, at the Housing Works Bookstore & Cafe, 126 Crosby Street, New York, New York 10012.

Panelists discuss audience questions and comments on importance of Overdose Prevention Centers in New York City and how everyday New Yorkers can help remove the stigma of substance use. In the build-up to International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, 2023, Housing Works presented What You Can Do To End New York's Overdose Crisis panel and happy hour on Thursday, August 24, 2023, at the Housing Works Bookstore & Cafe, 126 Crosby Street, New York, New York 10012. Pictured (L-R): Audience moderator Kaitlin Abrams, New York State Organizer, Housing Works; Asia Betancourt, National Overdose Prevention Line; Mario Vergara, Overdose Prevention Counselor, Housing Works; J. RueMel Parkin, Executive Director and Chair, helpNYC Corporation; and Richard Perkins, Harm Reduction Specialist, Housing Works. Photo: Housing Works.

Panelists discuss audience questions and comments on importance of Overdose Prevention Centers in New York City and how everyday New Yorkers can help remove the stigma of substance use. 


In the build-up to International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, 2023, Housing Works presented What You Can Do To End New York's Overdose Crisis panel and happy hour on Thursday, August 24, 2023, at the Housing Works Bookstore & Cafe, 126 Crosby Street, New York, New York 10012.


Pictured (L-R): Audience moderator Kaitlin Abrams, New York State Organizer, Housing Works; Asia Betancourt, National Overdose Prevention Line; Mario Vergara, Overdose Prevention Counselor, Housing Works; J. RueMel Parkin, Executive Director and Chair, helpNYC Corporation; and Richard Perkins, Harm Reduction Specialist, Housing Works.  Photo: Housing Works.

Panelists discuss the importance of Overdose Prevention Centers in New York City and how everyday New Yorkers can help remove the stigma of substance use. In the build-up to International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, 2023, Housing Works presented What You Can Do To End New York's Overdose Crisis panel and happy hour on Thursday, August 24, 2023 at the Housing Works Bookstore & Cafe, 126 Crosby Street, New York, New York 10012. Pictured (L-R): Asia Betancourt, National Overdose Prevention Line; Mario Vergara, Overdose Prevention Counselor, Housing Works; J. RueMel Parkin, Executive Director and Chair, helpNYC Corporation; Richard Perkins, Harm Reduction Specialist, Housing Works; and panel moderator Valerie Reyes-Jimenez, NYC Organizer, Housing Works. Photo: Kaitlin Abrams.

Panelists discuss the importance of Overdose Prevention Centers in New York City and how everyday New Yorkers can help remove the stigma of substance use. 


In the build-up to International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, 2023, Housing Works presented What You Can Do To End New York's Overdose Crisis panel and happy hour on Thursday, August 24, 2023 at the Housing Works Bookstore & Cafe, 126 Crosby Street, New York, New York 10012.


Pictured (L-R): Asia Betancourt, National Overdose Prevention Line; Mario Vergara, Overdose Prevention Counselor, Housing Works; J. RueMel Parkin, Executive Director and Chair, helpNYC Corporation; Richard Perkins, Harm Reduction Specialist, Housing Works; and panel moderator Valerie Reyes-Jimenez, NYC Organizer, Housing Works. 

Photo: Kaitlin Abrams.