A local nonprofit, Bronx leaders and recovery advocates gathered Wednesday at Joyce Kilmer Park, where 858 purple ribbons fluttered in the breeze—each representing a person from the Bronx who died of an opioid overdose in 2023.
The nonprofit Samaritan Daytop Village, which has been on the front lines of the opioid crisis in the Bronx, along with Borough President Vanessa Gibson hosted the outdoor memorial not just as a remembrance but also as a call to action. Gibson and elected officials used the occasion to call for greater investment in treatment access—as well as harm reduction and stigma reduction—as part of an effort to reduce the number of deaths in the borough.
“Each of the 858 purple ribbons placed in Joyce Kilmer Park represents a Bronx life lost to overdose—someone’s child, parent, friend, or neighbor,” said Gibson.
The ceremony spotlighted the stark contrast between national trends and the deepening impact of the opioid epidemic in the borough. Overdose deaths in the Bronx rose from 831 in 2022 to 858 in 2023, maintaining the highest overdose rate of any borough in New York City, according to the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
“Last year, when we gathered for this event, we hoped for a future where fewer ribbons would be needed,” said Mitchell Netburn, President & CEO of Samaritan Daytop Village. “Unfortunately, this year, we have had to place more.
Samaritan Daytop Village, which provides a range of social services, is nationally recognized for treating substance use disorder using harm reduction tools such as distributing the overdose reversal drug Naloxone (Narcan), mental health care, peer-led recovery and transitional housing.
Peer advocates from Samaritan’s Peer Alliance Recovery Centers (PARC) shared personal testimonies, emphasizing the life-saving role of Narcan and the need for connection and support in recovery.
“I’m humbled and grateful to be alive. Recovery is real, and I’m living proof,” said PARC Peer Professional Joseph Ruffalo.
Elected officials echoed the urgency, including State Senator Nathalia Fernandez and Assemblymembers Landon C. Dais, Jeffrey Dinowitz, and John Zaccaro, Jr., all pledging continued advocacy and support for affected communities.
“Programs like Narcan distribution and peer-led recovery are essential—but harm reduction must also include care for the communities where this work happens,” said Fernandez. “That means ensuring our neighborhoods stay safe, clean, and respected.”
Samaritan Daytop Village serves over 33,000 people in downstate New York each year. To seek help or learn more about the Peer Alliance Recovery Centers in the Bronx, residents can call 929-244-1500 or visit samaritanvillage.org.
