ONDCP Director Dr. Rahul Gupta Visits New York City to Meet with Leaders on the Front Lines of the Overdose Epidemic
NEW YORK, N.Y. – ONDCP Director Dr. Rahul Gupta traveled to New York City this week to meet with leaders working to stop the overdose epidemic, and joined Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh in expressing support for people on their recovery journeys. During the trip, which came as the Biden-Harris Administration celebrates National Recovery Month, Dr. Gupta recognized the millions of Americans in recovery and reaffirmed President Biden’s commitment to supporting every person in recovery. He also discussed President Biden’s National Drug Control Strategy and key actions the Biden-Harris Administration has taken to remove barriers to substance use disorder care, prevent overdoses, support people in recovery, and reduce the supply of illicit drugs like fentanyl.
“As part of his Unity Agenda, President Biden has called us to come together to beat the overdose epidemic and save lives,” said Dr. Gupta. “The leaders I met with in New York City are doing critical work to prevent overdoses, get more people the help they need, support people in recovery, and reduce the supply of illicit drugs.”
On Monday, Dr. Gupta was joined by Representative Jerry Nadler as he visited the New York/New Jersey HIDTA and toured the Crime Gun Intelligence Center to discuss the Center’s initiative to consolidate and share information on illegal firearm use and trafficking. He also met with the Gun Violence Strategies Partnership, a multiagency partnership funded by HIDTA that focuses on reducing gun violence in New York City.
At the 11th Annual C3 US-Arab Healthcare and Business Summit, Dr. Gupta delivered a keynote address to an audience of international business leaders and government officials from 36 countries. Dr. Gupta shared his perspective on the social determinants of the opioid epidemic and how the Biden-Harris Administration’s Strategy addresses security, health, and economic impacts of the overdose epidemic.
Dr. Gupta also visited The Center: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center, to talk about their evidence-based treatment and recovery support services which are designed to build trust and support youth and adults from across New York City in their recovery journey.
On Tuesday, Dr. Gupta joined Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh on a visit to the Lower Eastside Service Center, a non-profit that provides treatment and recovery support services, including vocational training, housing support, and healthcare access. The Director and Secretary Walsh hosted a roundtable discussion on the importance of employment and recovery-ready workplaces to support people in recovery.
Dr. Gupta also met with New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan to discuss how the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is supporting President Biden’s Strategy to beat the overdose epidemic by expanding access to high-impact public health interventions, like naloxone, that save lives.
Read the Biden-Harris Administration’s inaugural National Drug Control Strategy HERE.
Read the fact sheet on the Strategy HERE.
###
