Prevention Point Philadelphia

It’s National Save A Life Day, the country’s largest annual free naloxone distribution day. Cristina and Carlos will be outside 2917 Kensington Ave. until 3 p.m. today providing free supplies to the community including Narcan, injectable naloxone, drug testing strips, resources, and more. Come on by and ask for an overdose reversal training!

Join PPP, the City of Philadelphia, and other great Philly organizations this Thursday for National Save A Life Day — the country's largest annual free naloxone distribution day. Our Overdose Prevention team will be available outside PPP from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. providing naloxone, overdose reversal training, and other resources.

Won't be in Kensington on Thursday? Check out the list below for participating locations across the city.

Prevention Point Philadelphia (PPP) releases its 2026 impact data, reflecting major achievements across drug treatment, housing (especially the integration of medical services embedded with housing), overdose prevention, medical care, and social services. The data show increases in HIV prevention and treatment, as well as in the use of long-acting injectable medications for HIV care and prevention, and substantial growth for substance use treatment. Among the year’s most significant achievements was the successful integration of housing and medical services under one roof, resulting in stronger outcomes for PPP participants.

See all the numbers:

PPP 2026 IMPACT NUMBERS: Homeless Services with Integrated Medical Care, Pioneering Medication Practices with Increased Long-Acting Injectables Highlight the Year | Prevention Point Prevention Point Philadelphia (PPP), a leading public health and social service non-profit in Philadelphia, releases its 2026 impact data, reflecting major ach

This month, Overdose Prevention Coodinator Shawn Westfahl provided a Compassionate Opioid Overdose Reversal With Naloxone training to a group of 100 nursing students at Jefferson University. Many thanks to the students and professors for inviting PPP to provide this lifesaving class.

For info about our naloxone distribution program or to organize a group training for your community, see our website: https://ppponline.org/overdose-prevention-services

The September issue is out — of PPP's newsletter To the Point, that is! Make sure to read this issue in which we release our impressive FY2025-26 impact numbers. We also highlight our 3rd Annual Recover & Thrive event, a story from Philly Home at Girard resident Carl, a wonderful update from a former participant, a PPP physician featured in NPR, and more!

2026 IMPACT NUMBERS: Homeless Services with Integrated Medical Care, Pioneering Medication Practices, & More At Prevention Point Philadelphia (PPP), our numbers tell a powerful story about how PPP is constantly evolving — expanding access to care, pioneering new approaches to drug treatment, and innovating ways to prevent disease transmission, overdoses, and fatalities. They illustrate what is possible w...

PPP Director of Behavioral Health Denise Botcheos shared these powerful words about the STEP team and participants today at our third annual Recover & Thrive event. Thanks to her and the case managers, providers, and especially the participants who make this gathering so special.

"Our team goes above and beyond for the people we serve because this work is personal. They care for our participants the way we would want someone to care for us, our friends, our loved ones.

We know that we are all in this together. And perhaps that is the greatest strength of STEP.

We don't stand above the people we serve. We stand beside them.

We walk with them through the difficult moments, celebrate their victories, learn from their setbacks, and remind them that their story isn't over.

Their circumstances may be difficult. Their past may be painful. But none of that determines what their future can be."

Recover & Thrive: Finding Hope through STEP | Prevention Point Director of Behavioral Health Denise Botcheos wrote the piece below for PPP's third annual Recover & Thrive event in honor of National Recovery Month, held on Thursday,

PPP is hosting our third annual Recover & Thrive event NEXT WEEK THURSDAY, September 17. This FREE public event will include treatment resources, medication demonstrations, & powerful stories from community members in recovery. All are welcome.

“Prevention Point Philadelphia has been a pioneer in the use of long-acting injectable MOUD, and our experience has allowed us to continually evolve how we deliver this treatment to make it accessible to anyone who wants to pursue recovery,” says PPP Lead Executive Officer Silvana Mazzella. “The strong adherence we’re seeing reflects not only our clinical innovation, but also the way we have integrated medical care, case management, and navigation services across the organization. By supporting participants from the moment they walk through our doors and throughout their treatment journey, we’re removing barriers to care and creating a stronger pathway to recovery.”

Dee-Dee has been a case manager with our MOUD clinic for over two years now, and recently marked 25 years in recovery. We're revisiting her story this National Recovery Month:

As a person who has experienced substance use disorder (SUD), Dee-Dee feels it is her life’s purpose to help others who are still struggling.

“I got into recovery on July 29, 2001,” she says. “A lot of these resources were not available when I was having issues with substance use. I love that Prevention Point has a program for everything, any need that a person may have when they’re dealing with substance use. It’s very important that we can provide those services, not just direct them somewhere else.”

Dee-Dee’s path to social work and recovery services was shaped by years of self-discovery and spiritual reflection. Immediately after getting into recovery, Dee-Dee earned her associate’s degree in paralegal studies and worked in law for 10 years. She then worked in an academic setting for five years.

“I got to the point where I said, this can't be all there is to life, just going through it,” Dee-Dee recalls. “I'm not going to be around forever... There has to be a purpose as to why I'm here. I said, ‘what is it, Dee-Dee, that you do effortlessly and that you enjoy?' I realized, through all the things that I had been doing since I got clean, the main thing that I received the most pleasure out of was helping people.”

Dee-Dee Pope: Finding Life's Purpose in Helping Others | Prevention Point This Women’s History Month, we’re celebrating staff who provide lifechanging, lifesaving service

Reminder: with the exception of Philly Home at Girard and Homeless Outreach, all PPP services are closed tomorrow in honor of Labor Day. We’ll open as usual on Tuesday. 💕 Stay safe everyone!