Times Square Event Marks National Fentanyl Prevention Day

MIDTOWN, NY – Facing Fentanyl, a nonprofit organization founded by Andrea Thomas after the tragic loss of her daughter, Ashley Romero, to accidental fentanyl poisoning, will take over Times Square on Wednesday, Aug. 21, to mark the third annual National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day.

Facing Fentanyl will distribute naloxone, a safe and effective medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Wednesday, at Father Duffy Square. Members of the group will be on hand to answer questions and talk with passersby, and a billboard featuring images of those lost to fentanyl will light up Times Square for 20 minutes.

Joining Facing Fentanyl in Father Duffy Square – Broadway/7th Avenue between 46th and 47th Streets – are James Carroll, former Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, Michael Fiore, a recovery advocate, and Jaime Puerta, who lost his son to accidental fentanyl poisoning and heads another group that aims to raise awareness and prevent deaths due to fentanyl, Victims of Illicit Drugs (VOID).

Frank Tarentino, the Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York Division, which covers the entire State of New York, will also attend.

Fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, killed about 100,000 Americans in the most recent 12 month period for which data is available, according to the latest numbers from the National Center for Health Statistics.

This figure includes more than 3,000 New Yorkers. For context, the city recorded 386 homicides in 2023. In fact, according to NYC Health, drug overdose kills more New Yorkers than homicide, suicide, and motor vehicle crashes combined.

Here’s how to respond if you encounter an overdose.