Press Statements
January 9, 2023
Contact: Jasmine Budnella, Jasmine@vocal-ny.org
MISSING DATA: VOCAL-NY CALLS ON MAYOR ADAMS & DOHMH COMMISSIONER VASAN TO RELEASE OVERDOSE DATA
NEW YORK — In response to news that New York City’s Overdose Prevention Centers will run out of funding by February, and Mayor Adams and DOHMH Commissioner Vasan withholding 2021 finalized overdose data detailing the fatal impact of overdose on New Yorkers, and failure to release any 2022 overdose data, VOCAL-NY released the following statement attributable to Hiawatha Collins, board member and Users Union leader:
“It’s one day before Governor Hochul delivers her State of the State, weeks from when Mayor Adams delivers the State of the City, and over a year since there has been any updated overdose data from New York City. We need this data to illustrate the catastrophic reality of the overdose crisis in New York City, and create policy solutions that meet people where they’re at.
Updated overdose data released by the city would highlight the severity of the New York City overdose crisis we are seeing on the ground everyday. Each day we go without knowing the facts only exacerbates one of the biggest public health crises of our time. We can only assume the unwillingness to release updated numbers is for political cover, while hundreds continue to die without a coordinated response from our Governor and Mayor.”
###