New Paterson NJ naloxone initiative and harm reduction efforts

Hey, NJ! This week, we’re talking about a new harm reduction initiative in Paterson.

Black Lives Matter Paterson recently unveiled five naloxone kiosks around the city as part of a growing around-the-clock initiative. Each kiosk is stocked with roughly 50 boxes of naloxone — the opioid-reversal medication also known by the brand name Narcan — and offers first aid particularly when help isn’t available from harm reduction centers.

Hosts Maddi Ference and John P. McAlpin are joined by mental health writer Raven Santana and Zellie Thomas, an organizer with BLM Paterson, to discuss the initiative, the importance of community-driven work in combatting the opioid crisis and how BLM Paterson works to break the stigma around addiction.

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