Fwd: Health Department to Distribute 200 Doses of Naloxone Today to Prevent Fatal Opioid Overdoses in New York City

Health E-News September 9, 2014 Health Department to Distribute 200 Doses of Naloxone Today to Prevent Fatal Opioid Overdoses in New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio issued a proclamation declaring September 9, 2014 "New York City Overdose Awareness Day" In recognition of Mayor Bill de Blasio declaring New York City's first Overdose Awareness Day, the Health Department will train New Yorkers on overdose prevention and distribute 200 doses of naloxone. According to a new Health Department Epi Data Brief, 77 percent of drug overdose deaths in 2013 involved an opioid, including opioid analgesics (prescription painkillers), methadone, or heroin. On average, there is more than one fatal opioid overdose a day in New York City. Since 2010, more than 25,000 naloxone kits have been distributed and at least 500 overdoses in New York City have been reversed by using naloxone. Read the press release Epi Data Brief

Follow us on Twitter To sign up for more e-mail updates, or to unsubscribe from this list, simply go to www.nyc.gov/health/email and select the Health Department updates you'd like to receive. Comment on this news service Please do not reply to this message.