The New York State Department of Health is set to host its fifth annual Overdose Awareness Day event virtually on September 10. The event aims to honor individuals who have died from drug overdoses and recognize harm reduction service providers working to reduce stigma and connect people to care. This year’s theme is “Recognize, Reflect and Reach.”
“While we memorialize the loved ones, family, friends and community members we have lost to the drug overdose epidemic, we also honor the dedicated members of the harm reduction community who commit their lives to ending the overdose crisis,” said State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald. “This year’s theme is a fitting reminder that in order to turn the tide of this tragic epidemic we must recognize the people and programs advancing harm reduction, reflect on the lives lost and reach toward a more compassionate and equitable future for all.”
Organized by the Department’s AIDS Institute Office of Drug User Health, the virtual event will run from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. It is free and open to anyone interested in attending. A social media toolkit will be available for individuals and organizations wishing to promote overdose prevention.
The focus this year is on harm reduction peer workers—individuals with lived experience who support others using drugs. These peer workers will be highlighted through video testimonials shared across social media platforms.
Dr. David Holtgrave, Senior Policy Advisor to the Commissioner of Health, will provide opening remarks at the event. State Senator Nathalia Fernandez, Chair of the Alcoholism and Substance Use Disorder Committee, will also speak about raising awareness and ensuring an equitable approach in efforts to eliminate overdose deaths in New York.
State Senator Nathalia Fernandez said, “On Overdose Awareness Day, we honor those we have lost, lift up the families left behind, and reaffirm our commitment to prevention, compassion, and recovery. As Chair of the Alcoholism and Substance Use Disorders Committee, I will continue to pass legislation and fight for funding to protect our most vulnerable and reduce the tragic number of overdose deaths New Yorkers suffer each year. These efforts must also place equity at the center, because Black and Brown New Yorkers are dying at more than twice the rate of their White neighbors. Justice requires that our response reflect this reality.”
The event will include a commemoration recognizing individuals and programs working together against overdose deaths while promoting health equity by elevating harm reduction services.
As part of International Overdose Awareness Day activities on August 31 each year, state landmarks are illuminated in purple as a sign of support.
Recent data show that predicted estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate a decrease in drug overdose deaths in New York State—from 6,550 individuals (nearly 18 per day) in 2023 to 4,719 individuals (nearly 13 per day) in 2024—a drop of approximately 28 percent (https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2024/20240515.htm). This decline has been attributed in part to state investments in innovative programs addressing opioid use disorder.
Despite these improvements, officials note that overdose deaths remain high across communities statewide. The Department remains focused on reaching communities where reductions have not been equally realized.
Resources related to substance use disorder education can be accessed online via state resources. Information about finding harm reduction programs or accessing buprenorphine through state initiatives is available on the Office of Drug User Health website.
