NYC's Overdose Prevention Centers Just Hit 2,000 Reversals—With Zero Deaths

OnPoint NYC announced this month that staff at its two Overdose Prevention Centers have intervened in more than 2,000 overdoses since opening in November 2021. The milestone comes with a striking statistic: zero fatalities.

The nonprofit operates the nation's first government-sanctioned overdose prevention facilities, located in East Harlem and Washington Heights. These centers allow people to use drugs under medical supervision, with trained staff ready to respond immediately if an overdose occurs.

"These are not statistics," said Sam Rivera, OnPoint's Executive Director. "These are beautiful souls, parents, sons, daughters, friends, and neighbors. Every intervention is a moment where our staff meets someone at their most vulnerable with care, humanity, and the unwavering belief that their life has value."

The announcement arrives as New York City continues to grapple with an overdose crisis driven primarily by fentanyl. According to city health data, overdose deaths declined in 2024 for the first time in years, dropping from 3,056 deaths in 2023 to 2,192. Health officials have credited OnPoint's services with contributing to this reduction, particularly in historically Black and brown communities that had seen overdose rates climb steadily since 2018.

The centers provide more than just overdose response. Participants have access to medical services, case management, mental health care, safe use supplies, food, hygiene resources, and laundry facilities. The goal, Rivera said, is to "keep people alive, build trust, and create pathways to care."

Since launching, OnPoint has recorded 244,623 utilizations and served 7,011 participants. The organization has also collected over 1.3 million units of hazardous waste from public spaces like parks and sidewalks, addressing a quality-of-life concern that often generates friction between drug users and surrounding communities.

Dr. Alister Martin, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, highlighted the partnership between the city and OnPoint. "As an ER doctor, I've seen too many times what happens when someone overdoses without the proper support. OnPoint opens the door to recovery and prevents crises before they happen."

The city provides naloxone, health education, and buprenorphine prescriptions through the centers, alongside basic needs services like meals and showers.

OnPoint estimates its programs have generated approximately $58 million in taxpayer savings through reduced emergency response calls, hospitalizations, and other public costs. The organization safely disposed of nearly 7 million units of hazardous waste since opening.

The milestone puts New York City's overdose prevention model in the national spotlight as other jurisdictions consider similar approaches. While the centers remain controversial in some political circles, the data from OnPoint's four years of operation provides concrete evidence of their life-saving potential.

New Yorkers seeking help for substance use can call or text 988 to reach trained counselors 24/7.