August 31st is International Overdose Awareness Day

Training, Education and Alerts to Help Prevent Overdoses

Poughkeepsie… International Overdose Awareness Day is August 31^st and the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health (DBCH), together with community partners, encourages residents familiarize to themselves with the many services available to help those struggling with substance use disorders – including learning how to administer Narcan, which can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

DBCH will be participating in multiple events to educate residents how to recognize the signs of – and respond to – an opioid overdose with Narcan Training. Staff will also distribute Fentanyl/Xylazine test strips and provide information about local supports for those experiencing substance use disorder and their families. There is no registration required for these Thursday, August 31^st events:

• Narcan Training with State Sen. Michelle Hinchey
  Cady Recreation Park Pavilion, 1554 Main Street, Pleasant Valley
  5:30pm-6:30pm
  Narcan training and kit distribution
   
• Marc Foundation Overdose Awareness Day Event
  Dutchess County Drug Overdose Memorial (behind Gold’s Gym), 258 Titusville Road, LaGrange
  6pm-8:30pm
  Recovery Coaches will distribute harm-reduction educational materials
   
• International Overdose Awareness Day Event
  First Congregational Church of Christ, 269 Mill Street, Poughkeepsie
  7pm-8:30pm
  Narcan training and kit distribution

Opioid overdoses continue to rise throughout the nation and in Dutchess County, particularly with the spread of fentanyl.   In 2022, in Dutchess County, there were 106 opioid involved overdose deaths, 98 of those involved Fentanyl.   For the 1^st quarter 2023, there were 32 opioid involved over dose deaths 26 of which involved Fentanyl. 

County Executive William F.X. O’Neil said, “Fentanyl continues to surge into our country and is killing people on an unprecedented scale and it is heartbreaking. Our Department of Behavioral & Community Health is working around the clock to help people battle addiction and take steps to prevent overdoses and the Dutchess County Drug Task Force continues to investigate and apprehend drug dealers – but they face an uphill battle.  Thousands of pounds of fentanyl are flowing across the border from Mexico every month, and a complete overhaul of national security at our borders is needed to stop it.   We will do everything we can prevent to prevent overdoses here in Dutchess County, but we need President Biden and national leaders to establish better border control to stop this deadly surge.”

As part of continuing efforts to inform, educated and help prevent overdoses, DBCH has begun sending out Overdose Spike Alerts when drug-involved overdoses are observed using data from New York State, 911 overdose surveillance and other sources.  

Alerts are sent out to inform drug users, service providers and concerned citizens of the spike to increase awareness and encourage people to utilize harm reduction prevention measures. DBCH recovery coaches also increase street outreach during spike alerts with harm reduction supplies including Narcan kits, Fentanyl and Xylazine test strips and more.

Beginning on Aug. 31, Dutchess County DDBCH, in coordination with Partnership to End Addiction, will launch “End OD NY,” part of a national overdose prevention automated text messaging program. By texting EndODNY to 55753, enrollees receive messages about how to access treatment, how to talk to loved ones about substance use and relapse, and how to obtain and use naloxone.  Enrollees can also sign up to receive Spike Alerts.

DBCH Deputy Commissioner Jean-Marie Niebuhr said, “We recognize that there are multiple pathways to recovery.   We are working to ensure that there are a wide array of innovative services and dedicated community providers to help greet people with compassion and care to help them make their way toward wellness. No one has to deal with substance disorders alone, help is always available.”

Battling substance use is a main priority for DBCH, and they work daily to produce innovative services and partner with community organizations to provide quality services.

Overdose Spike Alerts are among the many tools and services offered by DBCH for overdose prevention.  Other tools include:

• Narcan training
  Training is available both in-person and virtually; information about upcoming trainings is available on DBCH’s website. In 2022, Dutchess County provided Narcan training to 2,078 people through its Opioid Overdose Prevention Program;  and nearly 1,800 people have trained year-to-date in 2023.   Families or civic groups looking to host Narcan trainings can contact DBCH Public Health Education Coordinator Lori Levine at 845-243-4428 or llevine@dutchessny.gov.
   
• Empowerment Center
  For those who are struggling with a substance use disorder and trying to work toward recovery,  Dutchess County’s Empowerment Center, located at 230 North Road in Poughkeepsie, is a walk-in, accessible center where individuals at any stage of their recovery journey can go for support from Recovery Coaches and others with lived experience.   Harm reduction supplies, including test strips and Narcan kits, are also available at the Empowerment Center.
   
• Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD)
  LEAD is an evidence-based program of street outreach that meets participants “where they are” to build rapport and connect them services such as emergency shelter, housing, mental health treatment, employment and more.
   
• 24/7 mental health services including:
  • Stabilization Center at 230 North Road in Poughkeepsie, which provides walk-in care for people with behavioral health and/or substance abuse issues.
  • HELPLINE which is accessible by calling 988 or texting 845-475-9500.   HELPLINE is also available through the free Dutchess County HELPLINE app, which gives users access to behavioral health and substance use services with a click of a button.

To learn more about available resources visit dutchessny.gov/behavioralhealth.