AGENCY TESTIMONY
Health Department's role and programs in addressing the opioid crisis
0:15:50
ยท
111 sec
Dr. Linn-Walton outlines the various programs and services implemented by the NYC Health Department to address substance use and its negative health consequences.
- Contracts with 14 syringe service providers and 6 outreach and syringe litter teams
- Provides community naloxone distribution, drug checking services, and education
- Implements innovative solutions like public health vending machines and the Relay program
- Supports buprenorphine access, treatment, recovery, and peer workforce development programs
Dr. Rebecca Linn- Walton
0:15:50
The health department also implements a significant array of programs to reduce substance use and its negative health consequences.
0:15:58
This includes the delivery of substance use prevention and harm reduction services.
0:16:03
We contract with 14 syringe service providers and 6 outreach and syringe litter teams.
0:16:10
These are community based organizations that provide access to sterile syringes as well as collect and safely dispose of used syringes found in the communities they serve.
0:16:20
They also provide a range of health services, including naloxone distribution, overdose education, HIV and hepatitis c testing and counseling, drug treatment counseling, support groups, drop in counseling, opioid addiction treatment with buprenorphine, and referrals to physical and mental health care and other drug treatment programs.
0:16:40
The health department also provides community naloxone and test strip distribution, drug checking services, and education and training services across the city.
0:16:50
Given the scale of the crisis, we have implemented innovative solutions, such
UNKNOWN
0:16:53
as the public health vending machines, which are located in
Dr. Rebecca Linn- Walton
0:16:53
4 locations and provide a such as the public health vending machines, which are located in 4 locations and provide 247 convenient and anonymous access to public health and wellness supplies.
0:17:04
The Relay program, a nonfatal overdose response initiative, Relay supports people who have experienced a nonfatal overdose by sending a peer wellness advocate to participating emergency departments to provide support, overdose risk, education, and naloxone.
0:17:21
This is all in addition to supporting buprenorphine access, treatment, and recovery, and peer workforce development programs.
0:17:28
As you can see, the health department provides critical insight and programming to the city's data driven evidence based approach.
0:17:36
The opioid settlement funds enable the city to enhance this work and better meet the demands of this crisis.