The campaign, in English and Spanish, includes videos with stories of past users of drugs and alcohol, where to go for rehabilitation, what to do if health insurance denied coverage, or educational materials for parents about the danger of drugs for pain in your medicine cabinet.
OASAS carried out the campaign on its website (www.combatheroin.ny.gov), radio, distributes pamphlets and recently placed a huge advertisement in the South Bronx on synthetic marijuana, or "K2" said Arlene González, director of the state agency in an interview with Efe.
"The numbers are going up. Addiction ups and people die from heroin overdoses."
In response, the decision to use the Naxolone, already available without a prescription, to counteract an overdose was taken, said the expert.
He said many addicts began using prescription pain medications, others to depression, psychological problems, smoking marijuana or alcohol abuse, "which most impacts everyone, but people do not want to accept."