New York City Health Department Recognizes Overdose Awareness Day With Community Care Fair in the Bronx

New York City Health Department Recognizes Overdose Awareness Day With Community Care Fair in the Bronx

On Monday, the Health Department is Bringing Together Over a Dozen Community-Based Organizations to Foster Community and Provide Resources to Bronx Residents

International Overdose Awareness Day Helps Raise Awareness of Accidental Overdoses and Increase Access to Harm Reduction and Prevention Services

Despite Promising Decreases, More Than 2,100 New Yorkers Died of an Overdose in 2024, as Bronx Residents Continue to Experience the Highest Rate of Overdose Deaths in the Five Boroughs

August 31, 2026 - The New York City Health Department recognized International Overdose Awareness Day by bringing together over a dozen local organizations for a community care fair in The Bronx, along College Avenue between 145th Street and 148th Street. Resources included backpack and school supply giveaways, naloxone trainings, onsite health services from mobile providers, and further connections to care in the community. The day will end with a moment of silence for the thousands of neighbors, friends, and family members lost to accidental overdoses each year.

Community-based partners joining the Health Department to provide resources and connection to services at the fair include Acacia Network, BOOM! Health, The Bridge, Bronx Legal Services, Bronx Móvil, Exponents, Harlem United, NYC Health + Hospitals, OnPoint NYC, St. Ann's Corner of Harm Reduction, and the Third Avenue Business Improvement District.

"Supporting the neighborhoods hit hardest by the overdose epidemic and persistent inequities means showing up with more than harm reduction - it also means showing up with resources to help communities heal," said NYC Health Commissioner Alister F. Martin. "While there was a promising decline in overdose deaths in 2024, we have more work to do to connect our neighbors to lifesaving care. I'm grateful for everyone working to reduce stigma and keep New Yorkers connected to care."

"The opioid crisis has taken far too many of our neighbors in the South Bronx and devastated families across our community," said New York City Council Member Justin Sanchez. "This Community Care Fair is an opportunity to bring families together, talk openly about substance use, educate our young people, and connect neighbors with resources and support that can save lives. On International Overdose Awareness Day, we remember those we have lost while committing ourselves to prevention, treatment, recovery, and a healthier future for the South Bronx."

"Our staff at the HUB Third Avenue BID care deeply about the community, including individuals and families impacted by substance misuse. Our hearts go out to anyone who has experienced or witnessed an overdose," said HUB Third Avenue BID Executive Director Pedro Suarez. "Anyone struggling with addiction is encouraged to seek treatment at any of the many providers throughout the city. At the Hub, we recognize that economic development should be rooted in community engagement and making sure that our neighborhoods have the resources needed to thrive. That is what Overdose Awareness Day is all about."

In 2024, 2,192 New Yorkers died from an accidental overdose. Despite decreases across geographic and demographic groups, disparities in overdose death persist. Compared to residents of other boroughs, Bronx residents continue to experience the highest rate of overdose deaths. While the rate of fatal overdose decreased by 20% in Hunts Point-Mott Haven, 14% in Highbridge-Morrisania, and 23% in Crotona-Tremont, residents of these neighborhoods continue to experience the highest rates of overdose in the city. Provisional data indicate that the decline in overdose deaths seen in 2024 continued into 2025.

Over the last year, the Health Department has expanded its efforts to better serve communities in the Bronx. This includes deploying additional staff for outreach around "The Hub" to support existing efforts and partnerships. Resources in the borough include syringe service programs, opioid overdose prevention programs, hospital-based nonfatal overdose response and buprenorphine treatment for people with opioid use disorder.

Ongoing efforts to expand access to resources citywide include additional funding for peer-led recovery services across the five boroughs, new public health vending machines and uplifting access to free naloxone.

Anyone looking for substance use services in New York City can call or text 988 to speak confidentially with a trained counselor 24/7. Call, text, and chat services are available in English and Spanish, with interpretation services available in more than 240 languages.

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