Essex County Drug Overdoses Soar

ELIZABETHTOWN — So far this month there have been seven drug overdoses, one fatal, reported in Essex County.

Most were in Ticonderoga and Moriah, resulting from the misuse of both prescription and illegal drugs since Nov. 1, the Essex County Public Health Department cited.

Seven people in Essex County have died from drug overdoses this year, Director of Public Health Linda Beers said.

"The recent increase in overdose reports received by the Essex County Health Department in just 20 days is very concerning," Beers said in a news release.

"Drug overdoses do not discriminate; they affect people of all races, classes, and locations.

"As the holiday season is upon us, it is important to support persons with substance use disorder and everyone living with conditions that impact their mental health," she continued. "One way to do this is to connect individuals with the local resources available to them."

Beers said everyone should do their part in helping those in need during the sometimes difficult and stressful holiday season.

"Our department is active in prioritizing prevention efforts and local responses to the abuse of prescription, heroin, and other drugs in Essex County," she said. "We gather community partners and co-chair the Essex County Heroin and Other Prevention Coalition, known as ECHO."

Essex County District Attorney Kristy Sprague is also concerned.

"The sharp increase in drug overdoses is heartbreaking," Sprague said.

"We can shift the way society thinks about addiction while identifying actions that individuals and communities can take to prevent and treat these conditions."

RESOURCES

Beers said ECHO agencies have programs and resources in place to help:

• Dial 988 24 hours a day to reach a mental health lifeline.
• Narcan Kit requests to the Health Department, with training and refills.
• Detox centers for addicts, with recovery support.
• Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD).

Mental Health Association in Essex County Director of Services Doug Meyer said the new 988 line has been useful.

"You (users) are not alone and your life matters," he said.

"The Mental Health Association is focused on the full range of solutions needed to address addiction and mental health including, for the first time, a local 988 crisis lifeline. Remember, these folks are your sons, daughters, parents, cousins, and neighbors."

Essex County Sheriff Dave Reynolds said his agency is also working to assist by supplying information on impacted areas.

"We've worked very hard to streamline our current reporting systems and get more accurate and timely information out on this constantly evolving issue," Reynolds said.

"Better data helps us respond more effectively and helps our community-based organizations target the areas with the most need."

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