Across the five boroughs, more than 6,800 people have died from a drug overdose since 2010. Addiction and its consequences is a battle the city is losing.
Spectrum News NY1 follows the opioid battle in New York City, from those addicted to those leading the fight against addiction.
Spectrum News NY1 presents The New York City Opioid Battle Tuesday, May 22 beginning at 8 p.m. Following the special, join us at 8:30 p.m. for a live town hall with local law enforcement representatives, political leaders, addiction specialists and those affected by the crisis to focus on possible outcomes to the issues.
Opioids are a class of drugs naturally found in the opium poppy plant, including heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and pain relievers, such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, morphine and many others.
According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, opioids are often used as medicines because they contain chemicals that relax the body and can relieve pain. Opioids can cause people to feel "high" and are very addictive. According to the NIDA, heroin is one of the world's most dangerous opioids.
