STAT reports on our fourth anniversary and recent press conference showcasing our continued impact on the communities we serve.
“In the four years since OnPoint expanded to include [overdose prevention centers] in East Harlem and Washington Heights, the organization has served nearly 7,000 unique clients and facilitated nearly a quarter-million “utilizations.” Perhaps most importantly, OnPoint has intervened to reverse 1,983 overdoses, known as overdose prevention centers or OPCs. No OnPoint client has died while at the facility — nor has there been a documented death at any officially sanctioned overdose prevention center site worldwide.
“In an OPC, you don’t have to hide, you don’t have to rush, and you don’t have to feel shame,” said Pia Marcus, OnPoint’s director of overdose prevention. “When you’re hiding and you’re rushing, the risk of infection and risk of overdose goes up. So you can see what a different experience it is to be in an OPC setting. These are uniquely intimate spaces that build trust really quickly, and they open doors to other kinds of care.”
