Cousins! In continuous efforts of cracking down on the fatal opioid epidemic, Mayor Eric Adams has signed a new bill into legislation!
According to Pix 11 news, New York City will now offer free Narcan kits to nightclubs. The bill was signed on Wednesday by Mayor Adams that’ll allow the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) to launch the Nightlife Opioid Antagonist Program. It has been stated that the program will provide participating clubs five kits at a time. The city is also set to train staff members on how to use the anti-overdose kits.
“The overdose crisis has been inflicting pain and heartache on our city for too long, so now is the time to take action,” says 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.”
Reports read that between July through September of last year that a total of 709 accidental drug overdose deaths took place in city of New York alone. Making it the highest single quarter on record, says officials. The DOHMH predicts that the total number of overdose deaths of this year will overall eceed to exceed those of 2020.
“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,” says DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan in a forwarded statement. “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.”
Cousins, what’s your take on this new bill? 🧐