Activist groups marked International Overdose Awareness Day, observed on August 31, by urging Governor Kathy Hochul to fortify the fight against opioid poisoning, notably fentanyl, by enhancing access to necessary resources and funds for emergency interventions. They are pushing for urgent attention to the growing overdose crisis that is magnifying across Staten Island and throughout the state of New York. One of the strong voices in this initiative is District Attorney Michael E. McMahon, representing the Staten Island Fentanyl and Overdose Task Force.
McMahon renewed his call for the governor to proclaim a state of emergency, deeming it essential to address the unfolding overdose crisis across the state. He echoed the dire need for significant state action to prevent further loss of lives to the pervasive misuse of potent opioids. This plea, while rooted in local concerns, also resonates on a wider state level, symbolizing the gravity of the situation.
Parallel to this, an alliance of 27 organizations, including Mothers Against Prescription Drug Abuse (MAPDA), has collectively penned a recommendation letter endorsed towards Gov. Hochul and 19 of her fellow governors. The broad-scale collaborative petition underscores the significance of this issue beyond the geographical boundaries of a single state, effectively shedding light on its national implications.
The urgency of the call to action is highlighted by the distressing overdose statistics in New York City. According to the latest data from the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, a New Yorker succumbs to an overdose every three hours. The year 2022 saw 3,026 confirmed overdose fatalities in the city, which constituted almost half of the state’s total deaths by overdose.
Shifting focus to the wider state, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported that the total number of people who lost their lives to drug overdoses in New York in the same year was 6,358. This staggering figure once again underscores the severity of the problem, making it evident that urgent measures are imperative to curb this growing menace.
The opioid crisis has been referred to as ‘a five-alarm fire’ and ‘the crisis of our lifetimes’ by McMahon, signifying the widespread devastation it has caused. In Staten Island alone, over 150 lives were lost to this crisis last year. He emphasizes the urgency for a swift and sweeping response from all jurisdictions – federal, state, and local.
A significant concern is the pervasive presence of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid whose potency far surpasses that of heroin and morphine. This potent drug, up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times more powerful than morphine, has been associated with most of the lethal overdoses documented nationwide. This makes the drive for awareness and prevention even more critical.
McMahon expressed that the moment for all echelons of public administration – federal, state, and local – to prioritize and address this public health peril is long overdue. He emphasized the critical role they have in combating this crisis, showing faith in the potential of collective effort to bring about positive change.
The task force under McMahon’s leadership, namely the Staten Island Fentanyl and Overdose Task Force, has outlined a set of policies which acts as a blueprint for lawmakers and government partners. He believes this comprehensive plan will facilitate improved strategy implementation, leading to benefits across society.
Adding a new dimension to the collective plea, the MAPDA, along with other organizations, sent letters to Gov. Hochul as well as the governors of 19 other states currently underserved by FDA-approved overdose-reversing medications. Advocates believe these medicines could provide a lifeline for individuals who have overdosed on opioids.
The collective approach seeks a strike at the heart of the crisis — lack of access to crucial life-saving medications. By doing so, it hopes to spur changes to existing state policies which restrict access to these crucial treatments.