By Graham Rayman
New York Daily News
NEW YORK — The City Council voted 51-0 Wednesday [June 11] to pass a bill designed to expand access to the overdose prevention drug Narcan in the city jails — a response, in part, to the fallout from the 10 OD deaths behind bars in 2022 and 2023.
The bill, Intro 206-B, would require the Department of Correction to provide Narcan training to all uniformed officers, make Narcan training available to people in custody, make sure Narcan is stocked in all housing units, and provide overdose prevention kits to those leaving jail.
The bill, which now goes to the mayor’s office for approval, also requires DOC to supply annual statistics on training and use of Narcan.
During the surge in overdose deaths, investigators found instances where Narcan was not available or where officers did not administer it or had not been trained in its use, a Council spokesman said.
“Today, the Council is taking a critical step to saving lives in our city jails by passing my Intro 206-B, which ensures that basic, proven, lifesaving tools like Narcan are part of our jail system’s standard protocols,” said Councilwoman Shahana Hanif, a sponsor of the bill.
“Since Mayor Adams has taken office, our city jails have become even more deadly places,” she said. “Every overdose death in our jails is preventable, and once enacted, this legislation will save lives.”
Liz Garcia, a spokeswoman for Adams, noted DOC provided input to the Council on the bill.
“The health and safety of every individual in our charge is a top priority, and one life lost to overdose is one too many,” Garcia said. “
The Department of Correction already trains staff to recognize signs of overdose and administer Narcan, and maintains a stock of Narcan in all housing areas.”
Natalie Fiorenzo, senior corrections specialist with New York County Defender Services, described detainee accounts of watching overdoses take place while they waited for staff to get there.
“People in custody are the first responders to most crises that occur in New York City’s jail system,” Fiorenzo said. “This legislation is the first step in giving them the tools they need to come to the rescue in those critical moments during an overdose emergency.”
A spokesman for the correction officers union did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
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