The aftermath of the latest presidential debate left Steven Gray with more questions than answers. “They don’t address the problems,” He said. Disappointed after investing an hour and a half in front of the TV screen, his mind wandered back to his first experience at a rally in which protesters, clutching 19 solemn body bags, marched towards governor Hochul’s office.
“Each year we hold a funeral march and rally to honor those we lose from overdose each day,” said Gray, Drug Policy Campaign Coordinator at VOCAL-NY. “This year marks 19 people, while last year was 18, and the year before, 17.”
In Midtown, a bustling business district and an active transportation hub, a surge in fentanyl mixture has made overdoses “the greatest threat ever,” Special Agent Frank A. Tarentino of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New York Division told the news service Patch. A report from the New York Post on June 17 states that Midtown South has become one of the top districts for drug arrests in the city.
This crisis, coupled with a lack of harm reduction initiatives, has raised concerns among advocates, who are calling for improved services and stronger connections among drug users to prevent further tragedies.
On August 21, Governor Hochul announced a decrease in overdose deaths in New York City from April 2023 to March 2024, citing data from the CDC. However, Alex Brass, Chief Officer of itAintDOPEnyc and Neighborhood Navigator of The Bridge, said, “The drop is minimal given the recent surge in deaths.”
In the area between 8th and 9th Avenue, public safety related to drug use has been one of the top three priorities in the community in recent years.“It’s impossible not to notice the increase in people using needles and becoming unconscious in our district,” said Jesse Bodine, Assistant District Manager of Community Board 4.
Despite visible drug abuse in Midtown, harm reduction infrastructure remains scarce.“Drug-checking reveals substance composition and opioid percentages, but we lack drop-in centers and services,” said Brass. New York City has only five drug-checking locations, none in Midtown. “It’s inadequate given the high unintentional overdose rates,” Brass said.
Advocates are pushing for new Overdose Prevention Centers (OPCs) in Midtown. “We need to create a place where people are literally not dying alone on staircases, on rooftops, in bathrooms,” said Gray. New York City currently has only two OPCs run by OnPoint NYC, in East Harlem and Washington Heights. “Since their operations in 2021, more than 1,570 lives have been saved,” Gray said.
Gray emphasized that OPCs offer comprehensive harm reduction services including clean drug supplies, case management, mental healthcare, and housing assistance. Beyond overdose prevention, OPCs are crucial in providing a solid connection for drug users to “build a network” and form a “sense of community,” according to Gray.
As a previous victim of overdose, Brass emphasized the importance of connecting with people who have similar experiences without being judged. “OPCs provide a good place for people to open up a level of trust without facing judgments.”
Yet Midtown faces particular challenges for connecting addicted people. “Midtown has a ‘transient’ nature since many people here are not settling down. Compared to other communities like Harlem, Midtown is not as cohesive,” Brass said. Bodine also highlighted Midtown’s high commercial turnover: “The 8th-9th Avenue corridor between Penn Station and the Port Authority will always be a fertile area for easy access, leading to significant drug dealing and narcotics use.”
On July 2, 2024, the mayor launched the Midtown Community Improvement Coalition, highlighting substance abuse as a major concern. Meanwhile, advocates are applying tactics to fill the gaps in drug-checking services and OPCs. The Positive Health Project (PHP) run by Housing Works and located on 37th Street offers a range of services for drug users. Alex Rodriguez, who has received help from PHP for 16 years, was saved by the project from a near-overdose. “They provide services without registration,” said Rodriguez, “they don’t judge.”
But the efforts of advocates cannot single-handedly turn the situation around. “What we are doing is not systematic enough and mostly offers short-term help,” said Brass.“We still need OPCs and a more solid community.”