Something forward, something new

People often assume that when someone wants to make a change, it’s because he or she has a personal tie to the issue.
Tyler Raciti, 18, of Locust Valley, says his initiative to start PRO-NEO began simply because he cares. The project, founded less than a year ago, promotes awareness of and participation in anti-opioid programs to alleviate the epidemic at the local and state levels.
Raciti unveiled legislation that he drafted himself at a press conference on Aug. 31. He worked with State Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci to gain support for the measure, which would mandate that funding for Narcan be made available in all state high schools. The legislation is set to go before the Assembly in January.
“By doing this, we’re making it more accessible for schools that can’t afford it, because it can be a financial burden,” Raciti said. “I don’t want a life-saving drug to be inaccessible.”
“Though there are legal protections that exist at the state level to alleviate this kind of problem, the funding is not provided,” said Dr. Anna Hunderfund, the superintendent of Locust Valley Central School District.

The Board of Education authorized the use of Narcan to be available throughout all schools in the district. The authorization was given via a board policy adopted on Feb. 17, 2017.
Hunderfund noted that no community is immune to the opioid epidemic. “We’ve made it accessible, and have trained our staff on how to administer it,” she said. “I applaud Tyler for his concern and initiative.”
PRO-NEO was founded on three pillars — advocacy, research and service. Co-founder Konrad Ben, the research chair of PRO-NEO, provided Raciti with medical expertise when he was developing ideas for the legislation.
“I worked as a research assistant in an addiction lab while at Rockefeller University, so I was familiar with the biology of addiction,” Ben said. “Working with Tyler has been surprising and inspiring. He’s really a go-getter, and I didn’t believe something of this much note could be accomplished [in so little time].”
In addition to drafting what would be groundbreaking legislation, Raciti and Ben are now looking for financial sponsors to help PRO-NEO open a harm-reduction center.
“We’ve noticed from research that as the opioid epidemic [intensifies], so does the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and this is very obvious in the Bronx,” Raciti said.
According to Ben, the Bronx had the largest number of overdose deaths in New York City in 2016. This statistic was crucial in determining where to set up the harm-reduction center.
PRO-NEO’s service chair, Kevin Narine, a 19-year-old senior at University of Pennsylvania studying psychology, said, “After working in a hospital system in the Bronx, I noticed the increasing amount of youth and adults with opioid-related problems and the lack of resources to help them.” He believes that a harm-reduction center in the Bronx could help correct the problem.
With the help of Narine, PRO-NEO is also working to open chapters of the organization on college campuses in an effort to promote its anti-drug agenda. The first chapter is at Penn.
Raciti said that opening a harm-reduction center is the best thing PRO-NEO can do for low cost with a high social benefit. “You can’t view any epidemic through the lens of criminal justice,” he said. “You have to view it as a health issue, not as a criminal one.”
Such centers offer resources including syringe access, counseling, drug treatment, medical services, housing, advocacy and activism, and Narcan administration.
“We’re looking to provide a safe haven for these people and alleviate the problem free of charge,” Raciti added. “Locking them up will do no justice.”
Ben remarked that PRO-NEO was officially given nonprofit status last month. “That was quite a feat,” he said, “and it will help solidify our reputation as we work with people to gain funding and get the HRC off the ground.”
Raciti said that PRO-NEO is documenting the process of opening a center on film, which will also include a look at the area of the Bronx where it will be located, the legislation being developed, and what the organization is accomplishing.
He encourages anyone with a dream to break with the status quo. “You have to be different — you have to be crazy,” he said. “Those who break through the status quo really come out on top and achieve their goals, and I wouldn’t have accomplished what I have if I didn’t do the same thing.”
Raciti graduated from Locust Valley High in June. He is now attending Pace University, and has a double major in international management and political science. He was elected freshman class president this week.