Ryan Thoresen Carson and his team at No Overdose New York set out on a walk from New York City to Buffalo to raise awareness to the growing opioid crisis across the state.

“So I think the walk was a really easy thing for people to understand, especially coming out of the pandemic,” Thoresen Carson said. “We wanted to have something people could be a part of while also being socially distanced. Something that people could join us all over the state.”

What You Need To Know

  • Governor Cuomo promised in 2018 to help create overdose prevention centers to combat opioid overdoses

  • 2020 was the worst year on record for overdose deaths, according to the CDC

  • 81,000 people died last year from overdoses

One of their stops was at the doorstep of the New York State Capital in Albany. That’s where the group met up with Vocal NY and elected officials to remind Governor Andrew Cuomo about the promise he made back in 2018.

“So the governor in 2018 promised groups like vocal who’s here today and housing works that he would create overdose prevention centers,” Thoresen Carson said.

These facilities would allow people to consume drugs under the supervision of a trained staff who can step in in the event of an overdose. They can also connect people to addiction treatment services.

But three years later, Thoresen Carson says that promise is still unfulfilled.

“He basically directed the department of health to get the ball rolling on this so these centers are ready to go, so that’s the big thing to be aware of,” Thoresen Carson said.

According to the CDC, 2020 was the worst year on record for overdose deaths across the country, with 81,000 lives lost during the pandemic to overdoses.

“What you see in the back right there, that is a cemetery of people who have died due to overdose,” Luke Forbes, a community organizer for Vocal NY said. “This is only a portion of what’s going on across the state of New York and we have the ability to really prevent these deaths.”

The group is hoping to launch a pilot program, if given approval by Cuomo, to research ways to help prevent growing numbers of opioid addiction.

It would also help provide peer support, access to social services and most importantly treatment.

Assemblymen John McDonald was among the officials to stand alongside the groups listening to their concerns. He says overdosed prevention centers are essential for saving future lives.

“Number one, no one is going to die there,” McDonald said. “Number two it’s going to lead to more and more people stop using illegal drugs and start to treat their disease and that’s what we need to focus on.”

Many of those in attendance have had a least one person in their lives affected by opioid usage. That includes Thoresen Carson, who lost one of his close friends, Mark, to an overdose.

“I had actually had a conversation with Mark shortly before he died about how he was excited that the governor had promised to create overdose prevention centers,” Thoresen Carson said. “To me, I know he would have used one of these centers if they were available. So to me, he would be alive today if the governor had followed through on what he said he was going to do”

Members of No Overdose New York started walking from New York City on July 1 and will continue to walk all the way to Buffalo to bring awareness to this issue.