The Opioid Overdose Prevention Program (OOPP) is an initiative created to help educate underserved communities on the opioid crisis, opioid overdose prevention and life-saving techniques. The overarching goal of this program is to prevent opioid misuse and opioid-related fatalities among New Yorkers, especially within the communities most impacted by the opioid crisis, such as East Harlem and the South Bronx. Along with community education, we train in emergency naloxone use with free distribution of the antidote to participating community members.
The OOPP was created in 2018. The program was developed in partnership with the New York City Department of Health (NYCDOH) and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Opioid Overdose Prevention Program. The program revolves around a network of faith-based institutions, food pantries and schools. Recently, the program has been expanded to include other community sites, such as NYCHA buildings and senior centers.
The program is free to all community-based organizations and is offered Monday through Saturday. Sessions take approximately 1 hour and consist of a short presentation followed by a training session on opioid overdose response and life-saving techniques. Please email ctsc-community@med.cornell.edu to request an OOPP event on behalf of your community organization.
What We Do
Trainings and Services Offered At Each Event:
- Educating community members about the evolving opioid crisis in America and NYC.
- How to spot and respond to an opioid overdose.
- How to use naloxone to reverse an opioid overdose.
- Up to two free naloxone kits given to each participant.
- Teaching life-saving techniques, such as hands-only CPR and rescue breathing.
