In efforts to combat the alarming number of opioid overdose deaths in The Bronx, one local nonprofit, recently held an overdose prevention event at St. James Park in Fordham Manor, during which 240 “Narcan” kits were distributed and training was provided on how to use them to save a life during an overdose situation.

City health officials said they expect the final number of overdose deaths in 2021 (not yet known as of Oct. 4, 2022) to exceed those in 2020, a year which saw the highest number of overdoses in the City since records began in 2000.

As reported, on Aug. 5, the City announced new measures to reduce overdoses, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and City health commissioner, Dr. Ashwin Vasan, said the City was expanding access to technology that allows people to, quickly and safely, test pre-obtained drugs for traces of fentanyl and other potentially lethal substances. This is currently taking place at sites running syringe service programs (SSP), co-located at overdose prevention centers (OPC).

 

As reported, a multi-drug seizure of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, crystal meth, and counterfeit pills took place in Mt. Hope on June 27, and on Aug. 4, in the Crotona section of the borough, street-ready heroin/fentanyl worth $5 million was seized from a Bronx packaging mill and six people were arrested.

 

 

 

KISS case manager, Jesus Aquino, provided the actual overdose prevention training on the day. “We had four classes and combined, we had about 30 people who were interested in learning how to dispense it and use it,” he said. [Bell later explained that 240 people received kits and were shown how to use them though they did not all participate in the complete training, which also covered other matters. 35 people underwent the complete training by the end of the event.]

 

As part of that training, Aquino showed participants the signs to look out for in an overdose scenario, fielded questions on people’s rights in such a scenario, as well as the potential liability involved in dispensing Narcan.

 

Aquino, who volunteered his time at the St. James Park event, said, “The response was excellent. We had the Spanish and English community wanting information and wanting to learn what’s going on.”

 

FDNY firefighter, Chris Marin, was also on hand, handing out over 200 plastic fire helmets to children as well as an FDNY activity coloring book, of which he said, “We have good information in there.” Regarding the success of the event, Marin said, “It was fantastic, man. They loved it! We love coming out here. It was a pleasure!” On KISS’s dispensing of Narcan kits, Marin added, “I think it’s fantastic!”

 

Angie, a resident of Kingsbridge Heights, was just walking through the park when she came across the event and picked up a fire helmet for her son. Asked for her thoughts on the opioid crisis and the KISS event, she said, “It’s scary, but necessary.” Asked if she had ever seen someone overdose, Angie replied, “I have, unfortunately. Yeah, not around here, but in Manhattan.” When asked if the person had gotten help, she replied, “They did. They actually died and they were revived.”

 

Coincidentally, Norwood News had been at St. James Park on Feb. 7, 2021, when paramedics, firefighters and police were called following a report of a man who had seemingly overdosed on a park bench during a snowstorm, only several feet from where KISS had set up their table.

As several bystanders stood in the wind-blown snow, watching paramedics work, one woman said to another, “I hope he’s still alive. God help us.” The second woman responded, “I thought he was sleeping too. That’s why I say, ‘Thanks for noticing’.” The first woman replied, “You’re welcome, Mama. No problem. I was, like, ‘Mister, Mister, you need help?’”

 

After working on the victim for about 10 minutes, one young man approached paramedics, saying, “Yo! He’s dead, Bro!” One of the women agreed, telling the other, “He’s gone; I’m upset to my stomach.” Paramedics were later seen giving the man oxygen and bringing him to a waiting ambulance.

 

At the time, Norwood News painstakingly attempted to find out if the man survived. However, due to the unavailability of an exact address for him, other than the park location, along with confusion as to which hospital he was taken to, his survival remains a mystery.

At the time, repeated requests via phone and email to Dr. Asia Worthy-Davis, the chief medical officer at the Office of the City’s Medical Examiner, went unanswered. A new request was made on Oct. 3 with the new chief medical examiner, Dr. Jason Graham. His office had not responded as of press date.

 

Meanwhile, during a press conference on Sept. 30, the mayor said the city’s overdose prevention centers have been successful in averting over 480 overdoses since opening but that more needed to be done to address the crisis.

 

Adams said a new bill, Intro 56-A, would require DOH to create a Nightlife Opioid Antagonist Program. “The program will permit nightlife establishments in the city to request and retain up to five opioid antagonist kits, five at a time, free of charge, to keep on premises,” he said. “This is going to help those who are in need of this usage.”

 

For more information on KISS, click here.

 

On April 1, 2023, AP reported that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration approved selling naloxone without a prescription, setting the overdose-reversing drug on course to become the first opioid treatment drug to be sold over the counter.

 

*Síle Moloney contributed to this story.