newsfentanyloverdoseDEA Issues Urgent Warning to World Cup Visitors: 29% of Street Pills Contain Lethal FentanylAs the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, the DEA is warning visitors that recreational drug use in the United States carries unprecedented risks. According to federal laboratory data, 29% of pills seized nationwide contain lethal doses of fentanyl—a synthetic opioid so potent that just two milligrams can kill.May 12, 20265 min read
newsrecoverytreatmentNYC Is Hiring 500 Former Addicts to Help Others Recover—And Paying Them $12 MillionNew York City will invest $12 million from opioid manufacturer settlements to hire 500 peer recovery specialists—people with lived experience of addiction who are trained to help others find treatment and stay in recovery.May 11, 20264 min read
newsfentanyloverdoseA New Synthetic Opioid 10 Times Stronger Than Fentanyl Is Showing Up in New YorkHealth officials are tracking a new class of synthetic opioids called orphines that have begun appearing in the U.S. drug supply, including New York. The most common variant, cychlorphine, is approximately 10 times more potent than fentanyl.May 6, 20265 min read
newsfentanyloverdoseA Veterinary Tranquilizer Is Now in 1 in 4 New York Opioid Samples—and It Doesn't Respond to NarcanNew peer-reviewed research reveals medetomidine, a veterinary tranquilizer, has infiltrated New York's opioid supply. The drug doesn't respond to naloxone and was linked to 134 overdose deaths in NYC last year.April 23, 20265 min read
newsfentanyloverdoseA Drug 100 Times Stronger Than Fentanyl Is Spreading. New York's DEA Is Racing to Contain It.Federal agents are tracking a disturbing shift in the drug supply: as fentanyl seizures decline, carfentanil—originally developed as an elephant tranquilizer—is filling the void. The DEA's New York division calls it one of the most significant threats in years.April 18, 20266 min read
newsfentanyloverdoseDEA Dismantles Three Fentanyl Mills in NYC, Seizing 90 Pounds of Deadly NarcoticsThe DEA's New York Task Force Division dismantled three unrelated fentanyl packaging mills within a six-hour operation, seizing over 90 pounds of fentanyl with an estimated street value of $7.5 million.April 16, 20264 min read
newsnaloxoneharm-reductionNYC Honors Public Health Worker Behind Naloxone Vending Machines That Distributed 4,500 Overdose KitsNew York City recognized a dozen public servants for innovative projects that improve city services. Among the winners: Roxanne Anderson, who launched vending machines that dispense free naloxone, syringes, and harm reduction supplies across the city.April 3, 20264 min read
newstreatmentmatNYC's Largest Hospital System Just Released Its Year-Two Addiction Treatment Report. Here's What Changed.The city's public hospital system expanded street outreach, emergency-based addiction treatment, and contingency management programs as part of its three-year Behavioral Health Blueprint.March 5, 20268 min read
newstreatmentpolicyNYC's Largest Hospital System Will Pay Patients to Stay in Addiction TreatmentThe city's public hospital system is rolling out a new approach to addiction treatment that pays patients small rewards for hitting recovery goals—starting with people involuntarily removed from the streets under controversial mental health laws.March 4, 20268 min read
settlementfundingnycNew York City to Receive $48 Million From Purdue Pharma-Sackler Settlement as Litigation Moves ForwardNew York City committed to a new Purdue Pharma-Sackler family settlement that will funnel approximately $48 million to the city — adding to the roughly $50 million annually the Adams administration already receives from major opioid settlements.February 25, 20264 min read
opioidfentanylharm-reductionA New Sedative Is Showing Up in New York's Drug Supply — and Naloxone Won't Stop ItDrug checking programs at NYC syringe service programs are detecting a new sedative in the city's opioid supply. Medetomidine is more dangerous than xylazine, and naloxone has no effect on it — which changes how overdoses need to be managed.February 18, 20263 min read
