Advocates Mark International Overdose Awareness Day
As broadcast on NY1 News, August 31, 2025
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Advocates Mark International Overdose Awareness Day
Watch the news story on our YouTube page:
Sunday [August 31] was International Overdose Awareness Day, a time to honor those lost to overdose and highlight available resources.
While progress has been made in reducing overdose deaths, frontline case workers say more action is needed.
Joe Ruffalo, CORE Program Coordinator at Samaritan Daytop Village, joined NY1 anchor Rocco Vertuccio on “Weekends on 1” to discuss the epidemic and ongoing support efforts.
Transcript of news segment:
Rocco Vertuccio: Today is International Overdose Awareness Day, a time to remember those who lost their lives to overdose and really also to raise awareness about resources in the community. Although overdoses continue to be an issue in New York, data show that the state is actually making some progress.
According to the CDC, overdoses statewide dropped 32% from 2023 to last year. And last year, according to the CDC, overdoses statewide dropped 32% from 2023 to last year. And last year, an estimated 4,500 New Yorkers died of a drug overdose. That is down from about 6,700 in 2023. About 77% of overdose deaths in New York State involve opioids such as heroin or fentanyl. Groups here in the city are on the front lines, offering substance use and recovery treatments.
One of those organizations is Samaritan Daytop Village. We’re joined this morning by a CORE Program Coordinator at Samaritan Daytop Village, Joe Ruffalo. Great to have you with us this morning on such an important topic. First, Joe, when you hear those numbers that there has been some progress, what does that mean to you? How does that hit you when you uh hear the numbers there?
Joe Ruffalo: Well, obviously, it’s encouraging. It’s all about boots on the ground and getting these numbers really, really low. Yeah. But it is encouraging.
Rocco Vertuccio: Let’s talk about that. What do you attribute the drop to and the progress to? Is it I imagine attributed to some of the work that you and other folks are doing?
Joe Ruffalo: Absolutely. We collaborate with so many different agencies. I mean, we’re out there every day doing outreach, building trust in the community, you know, just getting people to connect and realize that there is a better way. I’m living proof of that.
Rocco Vertuccio: Joe, tell us about Narcan. We hear a lot about Narcan. And in your outreach, what do you do there? Do you have to explain to people what it is, how it’s used, how it’s worked, and or how it works, and how it can save lives?
Joe Ruffalo: Yeah. Here’s a Narcan kit, which I believe everybody should have one. There should be one in every home, every household. It’s easy to use. It’s safe around pets and children. It will not affect anyone negatively in any way, but it will reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. It’s simple to use. As you see, you know, it comes with two 4-milligram packs, and all you do is peel, place, and press. It’s that simple. You wait two minutes. If there is no response, you do it again.
Rocco Vertuccio: Obviously, the first thing you should do in that event is call 911.
Joe Ruffalo: Yeah. And administered Narcan.
Rocco Vertuccio: And Joe that’s been very very effective and helpful in reducing the effects of an overdose.
Joe Ruffalo: Absolutely. I’ve I’ve Narcaned at least a half a dozen people in the last year myself. All of them were successful reverses and yeah it’s a wonderful situation. It works. More people need to be involved with it.
Rocco Vertuccio: Well, I was going to say so how do we get more people involved? What is the next step now in making Narcan more readily available? What should we be doing next?
Joe Ruffalo: Well, it’s available at any local pharmacy for free. If you come to any one of the PARC centers, whether it’s in the Bronx or Queens, we have a vending machine that’s free – along with Narcan – is harm reduction and fentanyl test strips, xylazine test strips. It’s all about education. You know, some people when they hear Narcan, they go, “No, no, no, no, no. Drugs, drugs.” No, no, no. It’s not about that. It’s about saving a life. So, it’s really up to us then to really to go about learn the information and going out and getting Narcan to keep on hand in case we come across someone, especially someone who of course might be in our lives who is dealing with substance use issues.
Rocco Vertuccio: Absolutely.
Joe Ruffalo: And we offer free training whether it’s via Zoom or in person at the center several times a month. If anyone wants to come in and get trained on the spot, we do that as well.
Rocco Vertuccio: And Joe, tell us about some of the other programs there at Samaritan Daytop Village. You have so many different things that you do there in a nutshell for people who may be looking for a place to turn to. Describe some of the things that you have there.
Joe Ruffalo: Yeah, I mean at the PARC center, we’re a recovery resource center. It’s just a safe haven for people to come and get connected. You know, we meet people where they’re at. We hear them for what they have to say. There’s no stigma there. You know, there’s just support and hope. We have workshops and whether it’s art workshops or one-on-one peer support, the list goes on and on and on. But it’s a safe haven for people to come. And for me, the wonderful part is… I’m with Samaritan a little over a year now. And to see people that were actively using that are now actually working… It’s just the reward is just tremendous.
Rocco Vertuccio: Joe, in our final moments here. You know, in terms of the stigma, what do you want people to know out there? Some of the misconceptions about substance abuse issues, people who do overdose. What do you want to clarify for those who, you know, might be thinking a certain way about all that?
Joe Ruffalo: Well, listen, I suffered from substance use for 40 years, and I’m human. These are people. These are lives. They need to be heard. They need to be treated. They need to be respected. You know, the stigma, we’ve made a lot of headway, but we still have a long way to go.
Rocco Vertuccio: Joe, it’s been a pleasure speaking with you this morning. Thank you so much for that important information. If anyone out there is looking for a place to turn to your organization, samaritanvillage.org, that is the website. Joe, we do appreciate. Thank you again.
Joe Ruffalo: Thank you, Rocco.
