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Alcohol & Drug Use

COVID-19 Information

People who use alcohol or drugs should review the below guidance to help stay safe during COVID-19.


Find Help

  • See the Buprenorphine Physician Locator and brochure (PDF)
  • Visit a DOHMH Sexual Health Clinic for in-person assistance
  • If you are enrolled in Medicaid, learn about available Behavioral Health Services.

    • Drugs & Health

    The misuse of illicit and prescription drugs can result in serious health problems including addiction, overdose, and death. Addiction can happen to anyone. Learn more.

    Alcohol & Health

    Alcohol plays a significant role in many chronic diseases, violence, and accidental injury. Each year, more than 1700 New Yorkers die of alcohol-related causes. Learn more about risky drinking here. Learn more.

    Prevent Overdose

    Opioid overdoses (including heroin and prescription painkillers) are preventable. Most overdoses occur 1 to 3 hours after the drug is taken. Learn more about how you can prevent overdose.

    Naloxone, a medication that reverses opioid overdose, is now available in participating pharmacies and Opioid Overdose Prevention Programs throughout NYC. Find one near you on our NYC Health Map or download a list of participating NYC pharmacies (PDF). For more information on how to become a participating pharmacy, visit our Provider Resources page.

    Drug & Alcohol Use Services

    Learn about the types of care and services available for problematic alcohol or drug use. Services vary depending on severity of need and individual circumstances. Addiction is a treatable health condition. Learn more.

    Access to sterile syringes has helped reduce the number of new HIV cases among injection drug users by 95% in the last 20 years. Approximately 2 million sterile syringes are given out each year. If you are unable to use new syringes every time you inject, learn more about safer syringe reuse (PDF).

    Find a location to dispose of used syringes near you.

    Prescription Pain Relievers

    People often think that opioid pain relievers are safer than illicit drugs, but that's not always true. Even though their purpose is to relieve pain, opioids can cause physical dependence, addiction, overdose, and death. There are many ways to prevent and treat these problems. Learn more.

    NYC Drug & Alcohol Data

    There is more to alcohol and other drug use than what makes the headlines. Data about drug and alcohol use and consequences are routinely collected from sources including surveys, insurance claims, and death certificates. Learn more.

    Information for Peers

    Peer-delivered services can help people with problematic drug or alcohol use take steps to improve their health. Peer-led services include syringe exchange, recovery centers, peer recovery coaching, peer health navigators, alumni groups, and peer-led mutual support groups including AA and NA. Learn more about peer services and resources.

    Additional Resources