Franklin Taveras can often spot a veteran on the streets of New York City… | New York University
Franklin Taveras can often spot a veteran on the streets of New York City before they even exchange words.
“Sometimes I’ll see how a guy has his boots laced and I’ll know he’s airborne,” Taveras says, referring to the distinctive way that paratroopers secure their boots.
“When veterans see me, some say, ‘You stand like you're at attention’ because I stand with my thumbs facing forward,” adds Taveras, who joined the Marines in the 1980s.
This shared background can lead Taveras into conversations with at-risk veterans focused on what they have in common—their military service—rather than their substance use or unstable housing.
He is part of the outreach team for an NIH-funded program led by NYU GPH researcher Alex Bennett to reduce opioid-related harms among veterans. Using a peer model—veterans reaching out to other veterans—the goal is to educate participants and prove them with resources to reduce risky behaviors that can lead to overdoses.
A typical day for the team might begin with a visit to a city park. There, they connect with fellow veterans to distribute naloxone, fentanyl test strips, clean syringes, and wound care supplies, and safely collect used syringes. If a veteran is hungry, they bring them a meal. They also share resources on where veterans can access benefits, find housing, do laundry, take a shower, visit a food pantry, apply for jobs, or get a driver’s license.
Depending on their readiness for change, veterans can be connected to drug treatment services or appointments at the VA.
The research team uses overdose mortality data from New York City’s Department of Health to know where they are most needed.
“We meet veterans where they're at: near shelters in Long Island City, in the South Bronx, in Washington Square Park and Tompkins Square Park, at restaurants or coffee shops,” Bennet says. “And if they want to come to NYU, we welcome them to our space here.”
Read more about this work: https://lnkd.in/eFT_c23g
📷 Tracey Friedman
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