Staff Member Q&A: Dr. Mariya Masyukova, Medical Director of Drug User Health

Dr. Mariya Masyukova provides drug user health services and primary care for patients at Third Street Medical Clinic and clients of the 820 Residential Program. She works directly with patients and offers support and supervision to staff.

Q: Dr. Masyukova, what is the current status of the overdose crisis?

“We are in the fourth wave of the overdose crisis. It started with the over-prescription of opioids, which led to people turning to heroin. Recent years have been marked by the rise of synthetics like fentanyl in the illicit drug supply, including in stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine.

Due to this unstable and unreliable supply, deaths are rising. In New York City, 2,668 people died of drug overdoses in 2021, a 78% increase since 2019. Our clients are disproportionately impacted: drug overdoses account for about half the deaths among New Yorkers experiencing homelessness.”

Q: How is Project Renewal responding to the crisis?

“Project Renewal is working toward implementing a harm reduction approach. We try to give people the resources they need to be as safe as possible. We provide fentanyl and xylazine testing strips so they can make an informed decision about their use, and medication for opioid use disorder to reduce their risk of dying from overdose. We train clients to recognize signs of an overdose and use the opioid reversal agent naloxone so they can respond if a friend or someone in the community is in need.

Harm reduction goes beyond these practical tools. We also value providing non-judgmental care and appreciate the sense of community clients create among themselves. For folks who have been isolated and cut off from support systems, fostering connections can make all the difference in their health outcomes.”

Q: What does client success look like?

“First and foremost, success starts with not dying from an overdose. We are here to partner with each person in working toward their own goals, which could include using more safely, reducing use or side effects by taking medication, not using drugs at all, and/or feeling more connected to themselves or their community.”

Q: What is the best part of your job?

“Our clients are resilient, amazing, kind, and creative. It’s incredibly rewarding to get to know them, to hear their stories, and to work with them to achieve their goals.”