MATTERS Network

01/15/2026

Access free, downloadable educational materials focused on substance use and harm reduction. Built for partners and community members.

Explore and download at mattersnetwork.org/edu

01/13/2026

MATTERS team member Matt Fitzsimmons dives into the reality of advocate burnout, what it is, why it happens, and tools to navigate it.

Read the full article to learn more at mattersnetwork.org/advocate-burnout

01/12/2026

We are very excited to introduce our new Southern New Jersey Outreach Coordinator, Jenny Gerace.

Hometown? Glendora, NJ

What is your favorite aspect of the MATTERS program? The continuous outreach and bringing together of numerous resources for individuals and partners.

Favorite place to visit in New Jersey? Sunset Beach in Cape May

01/09/2026

Our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Joshua Lynch, will be lecturing on harm reduction, its role in prevention, and the importance of connections to care at the NYSAFP Winter Weekend & Scientific Assembly on Friday, January 16, in Saratoga Springs.

Learn more about the event at: eventcreate.com/e/winter-weekend-scientific-115936-61e007

01/07/2026

Our Outreach Manager in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Matthew Bequeath, has been busy attending various community events over the last few weeks.

In his role, Matthew engages community members in MATTERS services and works to expand access to treatment and resources throughout Pennsylvania.

To learn more or to connect with Matthew about becoming a partner, visit mattersnetwork.org.

01/06/2026

Who can order drug test strips? Individuals and organizations across New York State are able to request free drug test strips to support harm reduction and community safety.

Order here: mattersnetwork.org/supplies.

We're grateful to NYS OASAS for their partnership in expanding access to life-saving resources across New York State.

MATTERS distributes free harm reduction supplies, including test strips and naloxone (Narcan), across New York State. Order supplies now!

01/05/2026

As 2026 begins, we're reflecting on the programs and resources we launched in 2025, including naloxone wall boxes, our syringe service program, a new referral platform, additional harm reduction vending machine locations, and more.

Thank you to everyone who made this work possible.

We can't wait to see what 2026 has in store!

01/02/2026

New Year, New Region, New Jersey. We're excited to bring MATTERS to Camden County! This marks the beginning of our expansion across the state of New Jersey.

This expansion represents a major step in increasing access to substance use services, resources, and support. We're grateful to the New Jersey Department of Health for their partnership as we work together to reach communities statewide.

Visit mattersnetwork.org/new-jersey-resources for current resources and updates as MATTERS in New Jersey continues to grow.

12/31/2025

Interested in managing a harm reduction vending machine for your organization?

Join us for a virtual information session on Tuesday, January 6, at 1:00 p.m. EST.

Discover how these machines can help expand access to life-saving supplies and promote safety in your community. This initiative is in collaboration with OASAS.

Register at: mattersnetwork.org/vending-machine-information-session

12/29/2025

Support starts here.

Access treatment, supplies, and educational resources across New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

Download the MATTERS Network app on the App Store or Google Play to get started.

12/23/2025

Happy Holidays from MATTERS!

We're thankful for our incredible staff, partners, and community stakeholders who work to make our mission achievable.

If you or someone you know needs support, you're not alone. We're here for you this holiday season and always.

Learn more or get connected at mattersnetwork.org

12/22/2025

Thank you to Congressman Paul Tonko for his kind introduction of our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Joshua Lynch, as the keynote speaker at the Beyond Addiction Symposium.

We are grateful for his recognition of how MATTERS has transformed linkage to addiction care across New York State, as well as his acknowledgement of Dr. Lynch's leadership and his work championing expanded access to treatment.

Thank you, Congressman Tonko, for your continued support.

To learn more about how MATTERS improves access to care, visit mattersnetwork.org

Video credit: Rep Tonko’s Office