EAST GREENBUSH – Facing a dramatic increase in opioid overdose deaths, Rensselaer County is holding a “Narcan Blitz” Tuesday to distribute the life-saving medical spray for free at five locations.
The county has had 24 fatal opioid overdoses so far this year compared to 11 fatal overdoses for the same period last year, officials said.
“We are taking what we believe is a realistic approach to a growing and tragic health issue in our county. Rensselaer County is working to battle the scourge of opioid addiction in an effective and common-sense way,” County Executive Steve McLaughlin said in a prepared statement.
“This is an important fight, as we have seen too many families lose members struggling with addiction and drug use,” McLaughlin continued.
The increase in overdoses is a statewide problem. The state comptroller’s office issued a report in Nov, “Continuing Crisis: Drug Overdose Deaths in New York State,” that measured the increase in fatalities.
“The share of drug overdose deaths in New York involving opioids increased further to 85 percent in both 2020 and 2021. Synthetic opioids like fentanyl and tramadol—often mixed with other drugs—account for much of the increase in drug overdose fatalities in New York, growing from 11 percent of all drug overdose deaths in 2010 to 78 percent in 2021,” the report stated.
The county reported that since 2020 it has seen 177 deaths resulting from fentanyl-related overdoses. In 2022, the county said, it had 42 confirmed overdoses cases of which 34 involved fentanyl-related with three cases waiting for the final toxicology report.
“Narcan can help save a life and avoid a tragedy. The blitz on April 4 will give residents a convenient and safe way to obtain Narcan and help in the fight,” County Public Health Director Mary Fran Wachunas said in a statement.
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