New York City faces a growing health and safety crisis caused by illicit substances on the streets. Many people walk through a sidewalk in Queens or a park in Manhattan and find discarded drugs, a clear reminder of a problem that affects our daily lives. This is a real situation that threatens the safety and well-being of the community and demands attention and action from the city.
One major issue is the high number of overdose deaths connected to unregulated and dangerous drugs like fentanyl. According to the Health Department, “New York City reported 3,046 overdose deaths in 2023, a decline of 24 deaths year-over-year… There were 616 deaths in the first three months of this year, down from 726 deaths during the same time in 2023.” This shows that even with a small decrease, overdose deaths remain extremely high. The spread of fentanyl increases the risk of accidental death because of its strong potency. This makes the crisis on the streets not just visible, but deadly.
Another serious problem is that the presence of drug waste impacts the safety and cleanliness of public spaces. One evidence you provided states, “In 2024, Health Department Outreach and Syringe Litter teams collected more than 198,000 ground syringes, provided syringe disposal education more than 7,000 times, and the Health Department distributed more than 304,000 naloxone kits citywide.” This proves that the amount of drug waste on the streets is huge and constant. Used needles in parks and sidewalks create a biohazard for residents and workers, making public places feel unsafe and less hygienic…