Hundreds of New Yorkers will walk along the Hudson River in October to end the stigma that keeps people from getting help. The annual Shatterproof Walk to End Addiction takes place Sunday the 25th at Pier 76 in Hudson River Park. This ninth outing doubles as a memorial and fundraiser for better addiction treatment in New York.
Walk Returns to Pier 76
Check-in at Pier 76 at 408 12th Avenue begins at 8:00 AM with the official walk program starting at 9:30 AM. The name Shatterproof comes from a national nonprofit sponsor that spreads awareness on how addiction is treated and understood in the United States. Participants walk to honor loved ones lost to overdose, celebrate people in recovery and promote care.
Shatterproof’s walk series has mobilized thousands in multiple cities in recent years. They’ve raised more than $1.5 million annually toward changing the addiction treatment system.
The Big Apple Needs It
Shatterproof’s main hope is to shatter one record: that of overdoses. Drug overdose now leads the causes of death for Americans ages 18 to 44, more than car accidents, gun violence, or cancer combined. New York State recorded 5,500 overdose deaths in 2023, and street fentanyl was involved in 80% of overdose deaths. The veterinary sedative xylazine was found in 31% of opioid-involved deaths, up from 22% in 2025.
Yet 49 million Americans live with substance use disorders but only about one in five receive treatment.
Addiction & Stigma
Stigma remains one of the biggest barriers between needing help and getting it. Shatterproof’s polling found that 57% of Americans view folks who take drugs as untrustworthy and 74% don’t recognize addiction as a chronic medical illness. Those attitudes keep people from disclosing their struggles, seeking addiction treatment options or staying connected to recovery.
Common signs of addiction include using more of a substance than intended, failed attempts to cut back, withdrawal symptoms when stopping and continuing use despite harm to relationships or health. Recognizing these signs early gives families better odds of intervening before a crisis.
Resources in The Knickerbockner State & Beyond
New Yorkers have turned to peer advocates and others who want help for themselves or a loved one. You can, too, no matter where you’re located. Just search addiction treatment centers via our directory for locations anywhere in the USA and filter for programs that treat the specific substance involved. Many facilities offer same-day assessments.
You can also dial
800-681-1058
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