Forging Community Connections on the Frontlines
OnPoint NYC’s Outreach and Public Safety Team connects people to care through mobile services, overdose response, hazardous waste cleanup, and community outreach across NYC neighborhoods.
Four Years of Saving Lives
On November 30, 2025, OnPoint NYC marked four years since opening the first government-sanctioned Overdose Prevention Centers (OPCs) in the United States. In the weeks following the anniversary, we also reached major milestones. Since launching the OPCs, staff have intervened in 2,004 overdoses, helping save lives and preventing further harm. A total of 7,011 people have been served and engaged in care at our OPCs. There have been 244,623 utilizations, meaning thousands of instances of drug use were diverted from public spaces. Together, these milestones reflect an estimated $57,990,000 in taxpayer cost savings and coincide with a meaningful reduction in overdose deaths among Black and Latino New Yorkers, thanks to our collective efforts.
To reflect on these milestones and the work behind them, we brought together staff, partners, and community members, including our Executive Director, Sam Rivera; Acting NYC Health Commissioner and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Michelle Morse; New York State Senator Gustavo Rivera; community partner and Associate Executive Director of the Association to Benefit Children School, Eri Noguchi; our Director of Overdose Prevention, Pia Marcus; and our Overdose Prevention Specialist, Clara Cardelle. At the gathering, they spoke about what this moment means for our communities, the people and relationships behind every number, the lives saved, and the care happening every day.
For four years, OnPoint NYC has demonstrated that compassionate, evidence-based care changes outcomes for individuals, families, and neighborhoods. Speakers reflected on how this work has expanded access to services, reduced preventable deaths, and built spaces where people are met without judgment and where healing becomes possible.
“Everyone, regardless of what they do [at OnPoint NYC], participates in saving lives.”
Our Executive Director, Sam Rivera, reflected on 4 years of operating the nation’s first Overdose Prevention Centers, what it took to get here, and the shared commitment of staff and partners who show up every day so people can stay alive and connected to care.
“We are excited to celebrate our third [mayoral administration] that supports our work.”
Our Executive Director, Sam Rivera, highlighted the support that has enabled OnPoint NYC to operate the nation’s first Overdose Prevention Centers across multiple NYC mayoral administrations, reflecting on what sustained commitment from partners means for keeping people alive and connected to services.
“Too many people believe healing happens by forcing people… what we know is that people heal when you meet them where they are.”
Our Executive Director, Sam Rivera, described OnPoint NYC’s holistic and welcoming approach, explained the multiple pathways to care from outreach and case management to medical and holistic services, and noted that many participants described themselves as members of OnPoint NYC, not clients.
“You have shepherded what was an idea into real life in a way that has saved thousands of lives.”
Acting New York City Health Commissioner and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Michelle Morse, reflected on visiting our sites, what a truly healing space feels like, and why dignity, safety, and connection matter for New Yorkers who use drugs.
“In 2024, overdose deaths … dropped by 28% compared to 2021 … for the first time since 2018 overdose deaths amongst Black and Latino New Yorkers decreased … This is because of OnPoint NYC and the health department’s extensive work.”
Acting New York City Health Commissioner and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Michelle Morse, celebrated the partnership and collective impact that led to the decline in overdose deaths in our communities, recognizing the work of OnPoint NYC and partners across the city.
“Our work continues to touch about 22,000 people a year… and that includes more than 8,000 people at OnPoint NYC alone… our partnership is life saving, and we value it tremendously.”
Acting New York City Health Commissioner and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Michelle Morse, underscored how collaboration translates into action, from medication access and naloxone training to syringe services and treatment connections, and recognizes OnPoint NYC’s role in reaching thousands of New Yorkers each year.
“Addiction is not a moral failing… if criminalization helped, we would have fixed the problem already… compassionate, evidence driven practices save lives.”
NYS Senator Gustavo Rivera reflected on the nearly 2,000 overdoses reversed at OnPoint NYC and why compassion and evidence-based care change outcomes.
“The OnPoint team are the ones who stay when an adult … sometimes trips and falls … But too many of us give up on adults who are struggling. I thank my lucky stars every day that we have neighbors who don’t give up on these adults.”
Eri Noguchi, Associate Executive Director at Association to Benefit Children School, shares why their school welcomes OnPoint NYC as neighbors, recognizing a team that does not give up on adults who are struggling, knowing that today’s children will benefit from that grace.
“For the last three years, we have intervened in 1,983 overdoses. Each overdose is a life saved… these numbers are people.”
Pia Marcus, Director of Overdose Prevention at OnPoint NYC, explained why OPCs save lives by responding at the moment an overdose occurs and preventing the most serious complications, and why this is not possible in public spaces.
“We’ve had 239,200 utilizations… every time a person comes into the OPC, it’s an opportunity to connect with medical care or case management.”
Pia Marcus, Director of Overdose Prevention at OnPoint NYC, shared that 6,943 unique individuals had been enrolled in the OPCs and noted the estimated $55.5 million saved for NYC taxpayers through overdose interventions, while emphasizing how each visit opens doors to wraparound care.
“We’re also diverting a huge amount of hazardous waste from our parks and public spaces by operating our OPCs.”
Pia Marcus, Director of Overdose Prevention at OnPoint NYC, shared that OPST conducted 2,418 outreach sessions with over 39,000 contacts, and removed 1.38M units of hazardous waste from public spaces and kept 5.4M units contained onsite, while directly connecting people to services.
“I went looking for care… and for a place where, if I overdosed, someone would open the door and save my life.”
Clara Cardelle, Overdose Prevention Specialist at OnPoint NYC, shared her lived experience and how being welcomed without judgment helped her reconnect to care. She spoke about meeting people where they are, offering multiple chances and pathways to recovery, and building trust as part of the same community she grew up in.
“I wanted to save lives and give people what OnPoint gave me… love, care… they knew my name.”
Clara Cardelle, Overdose Prevention Specialist at OnPoint NYC, described how she moved from participant to staff member, and how she now welcomes others the same way she was welcomed. She talked about sitting with people, offering water and hugs, and connecting them to medical care, case management, or holistic services when they need it.
Four years in, the message from staff, community members, and partners was clear: this work saves lives and must continue. Speakers honored the thousands of lives saved, the participants welcomed into care, and the growing evidence that compassionate, health-based approaches improve the quality of life for people who use drugs and the communities we serve.
The anniversary gathering was also a reminder that this work is seen and valued beyond our walls. You can read recent coverage of the event and OnPoint NYC’s impact here.
As we look ahead, we remain committed to the promise that has guided OnPoint NYC since opening day: to meet people where they are, to lead with dignity and care, and to foster a community where everyone has the chance to thrive and belong.
EXPLORE OUR BLOGS
Four Years of Saving Lives
OnPoint NYC marks four years of OPCs and saving lives: 2,004 overdoses reversed, 7,011 people connected to care, and 244,623 utilizations diverting drug use from public spaces.
Finding Belonging: How Our Groups Build Community and Care
At OnPoint NYC, connection is care. Across our East Harlem and Washington Heights Wellness Hubs, we host a wide range of groups designed to promote healing, creativity, learning, and community.
