New York, October 12 New York authorities have begun administering doses of naxolone, a drug used to treat opiate overdose, which has become the leading cause of accidental death in the United States, to the city’s nightclubs.
“The overdose crisis has inflicted too much damage on our city for too long. Today we are delivering Narcan kits to New York nightclubs,” Mayor Eric Adams wrote in a Twitter message.
Narcan is a nasal spray that contains naxolone and with which the mayor’s office wants to equip the largest number of bars, restaurants and nightclubs in the city, with the aim of saving lives.
“Naloxone (Narcan) is a safe drug that can save a person’s life by reversing the effects of an opioid overdose. It only works with opioids, such as heroin, prescription pain relievers, and fentanyl, but it can be used safely even if there are no opioids present, “says the city council on the campaign website, titled” NARCAN behind all bars “.
The city acknowledges “that the presence of fentanyl in New York City’s drug supply has increased dramatically in its unintended use, increasing the number of overdose deaths.”
The campaign also includes online training workshops for its correct use and for employees of the premises, who may request the sending of Narcan kits that include brief instructions, a mask, two inhalers and hygienic gloves.
According to the latest official data, 2,062 deaths from overdose were recorded in New York in 2020, compared to 1,497 the previous year, which is equivalent to 30.5 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants.
Opioids were involved in 85% of these deaths, with fentanyl present in 77% of overdose deaths in 2020.
By gender, the death rate from acute drug intoxication in men was 49.8 per 100,000 population, while in women it was 13.1 per 100,000 population.
Black New Yorkers have the highest death rate, at 38.2 per 100,000, followed by Hispanics (33.3 per 100,000) and whites (32.7 per 100,000). EFE
jfu / fjo
