NEWARK JOINS CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY IN RESPONSE TO OVERDOSE DEATHS IN BLACK COMMUNITIES 

In the wake of a decade-long surge in drug overdose deaths among Black Americans nationwide, a coalition of Black community leaders, government officials, and health experts in Newark and across seven cities today launched You Have the Power to Save Lives, a campaign to promote the use of the overdose-reversing naloxone in Black communities.  

Today, a Zoom press conference and rally were held with media and community, civic, and government leaders from the target cities. A video of the press conference will be available HERE after the event.     

The campaign also released a report consolidating recent evidence that illustrates the need for urgent action to save lives, finding:  

• In 2023, Black people accounted for more than 60% of all overdose deaths in Essex County, where Newark is located.  
• In Essex County, the rate of overdose death in the Black population was three times higher than the rate of overdose in the white population in 2023. 
• Overdose is the leading cause of preventable death for Black adults in the United States, surpassing gun violence and car crashes. In many cities, older Black men are four times more likely to die of overdose than other men in their age group.  
• Overdose rates in Black communities have been rising for the past ten years but have skyrocketed since 2020 when overdose rates in the Black population overtook rates in the white population.  
• Nationwide, there has been a recent 24% decline in overdose deaths, but data suggests the number of deaths in Black communities remains disproportionately high and calls for equitable investment and focus on health interventions to address this problem.  

The campaign, with its strong focus on community engagement, focuses on activating community leaders in Black communities to expand the availability and utilization of naloxone, a lifesaving, overdose-reversing nasal spray medication. At the heart of the campaign is a new website – YouCanSaveLives.org – where people can find out where to obtain naloxone near them, hear powerful, real-world testimonials, and take action to spread the word about the importance of naloxone. 

“The overdose crisis is devastating our community, and we cannot afford to be reactive—we must be proactive,” proclaimed Divad Sanders, Overdose Response Team Director at the Newark Community Street Team. “By expanding access to naloxone, training, and needed services, we ensure that help is available to those in immediate crisis.” 

Supported by public health organization Vital Strategies, with funding from the Elton John AIDS Foundation, the campaign includes more than a dozen community groups, health organizations, and local government agencies. Their efforts focus on establishing new naloxone distribution points in Black communities—including firehouses, neighborhood gathering spaces, and local health providers—to reduce the stigma around carrying naloxone and empower individuals to save lives in the event of an overdose. 

The seven cities participating are Newark, New Jersey; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Louisville, Kentucky; Durham, North Carolina; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Detroit, Michigan. 

The campaign aims to ensure that residents are aware of the availability of free naloxone, motivated to obtain it and use it, and inspired to share information about this resource with their communities. YouCanSaveLives.org directs visitors to locations in their neighborhoods where naloxone is available and provides information on the medication, its benefits, and its use.  

“We are cautiously optimistic about declining overdose death rates nationally, but after years of skyrocketing rates, the wide disparities experienced by Black communities are raising the alarm,” emphasized Daliah Heller, Vice President for Overdose Prevention Initiatives at Vital Strategies. “Rates are higher among Black adults than their white counterparts; we urgently need equitable and focused strategies. This campaign is making lifesaving naloxone more widely available in Black communities in Newark and six other cities, and mobilizing Black people to carry it to protect friends, family, and community.” 

Naloxone is a life-saving medication that reverses the effects of an opioid-related overdose within minutes. Available over-the-counter as a nasal spray, naloxone is a safe and easy-to-use medication. Opioids relieve pain by attaching and activating specific receptors in the brain. Naloxone reverses opioid overdoses by blocking the receptors and preventing opioids from attaching. Naloxone can be purchased over the counter at pharmacies and is available for free through community distribution sites. It can be administered as a nasal spray without any specialized training. 

About Vital Strategies: 

Vital Strategies is a global health organization that believes every person should be protected by a strong public health system. Our overdose prevention program works to strengthen and scale evidence-based, data-driven policies and interventions to create equitable and sustainable reductions in overdose deaths in several U.S. states and local jurisdictions. 

About the National Black Harm Reduction Network: 

The National Black Harm Reduction Network is dedicated to advancing harm reduction principles that optimize health and wellness for Black people who are disproportionately harmed by public health initiatives, the criminal legal system, and drug policies.