Overview
On July 31, 2023, Governor Kathy Hochul announced the launch of a statewide media campaign, Harm Reduction Delivered, to educate the public about the potential risks of fentanyl, the importance of harm reduction services, as well as how and where to find help for addiction in New York State. The Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) partnered with NEXT Distro and NY Matters to increase access to the overdose reversal medication naloxone as well as Fentanyl and Xylazine test strips. These partnerships are funded through New York State’s Opioid Settlement Fund and allow individuals to receive these life-saving harm reduction tools by mail, free of charge.
The campaign raises awareness through public service announcements on social media, TV, radio, billboards and other public locations.
As a direct result, more than 12 million test strips have been ordered and 80,000 naloxone kits distributed throughout New York (as of 3/1/2024).
Social Media Assets
English
Download "This is Enough" image.
Spanish
Video Public Service Announcements
For all the Public Service Announcement from this campaign, check out OASAS on YouTube.
Video Ads (English)
Video Ads (Spanish)
Print Materials
Raising Awareness
OASAS works to raise awareness of the potential dangers of fentanyl use through education efforts on how to recognize signs of a fentanyl or opioid overdose, how to respond to an overdose and administer naloxone, and tips on how to avoid overdoses. Our ongoing prevention programming across the state, including in schools, focuses on informing New Yorkers about fentanyl and other illicit substances.
For individuals looking to learn how to use naloxone, OASAS offers virtual naloxone trainings, which are open to the public, and educate individuals on how to recognize an overdose, respond by administering naloxone, and what to do after naloxone is given.
Fentanyl is a strong substance and can be 100 times more potent than heroin. While fentanyl has certain legal medical uses, use of illegal fentanyl and synthetic analogs continues to rise and can have devastating consequences. Fentanyl is especially dangerous because it is often mixed into other drugs such as heroin or cocaine without the knowledge of people using those substances, which substantially raises the risk of a potential overdose. Fentanyl is now present in approximately 75% of overdose deaths in New York State.