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Monroe County releases fatal overdose data for first half of 2017

From left, Greece Supervisor Bill Reilich, Monroe County Executive and Dr. Michael Mendoza, the county's commissioner of public health, appear at a news conference Wednesday to talk about the opioid crisis and expanded Narcan training now being offered.
Denise Young/WXXI News
From left, Greece Supervisor Bill Reilich, Monroe County Executive and Dr. Michael Mendoza, the county's commissioner of public health, appear at a news conference Wednesday to talk about the opioid crisis and expanded Narcan training now being offered.

Monroe County officials released figures Wednesday that show the deadly impact that the opioid crisis has had on this area.

At a news conference at Greece Town Hall, County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo said in the first half of 2016, the medical examiner’s office reported 97 overdose fatalities directly attributable to the use of heroin, opioids and other related substances.

In the same time period of 2017, there were 115 deaths.

“So you can clearly see that there’s an uptick in the data,” Dinolfo said. “Sadly, despite our community’s best collective efforts to combat this crisis, it’s possible the crisis will get worse before it gets better.”

Dinolfo also announced that the county is expanding its training to teach more people how to use Narcan, an emergency nasal spray that can be used to stop an opioid overdose.

Dinolfo said the town of Greece is the first municipality to partner with the county to bring the training to its workforce.

We want to hear what you have to say about opioid and heroin use in our community. Please click on this link to take a short survey.

“The county is also providing Narcan nasal spray response kits for the towns to keep on hand in case, God forbid, of an opioid overdose right here in the town of Greece,” she said.

Dinolfo said the training is being offered throughout the county.

“We’ve contacted every single local government, our towns and villages, to offer them the same opportunity to participate in an opioid overdose prevention training session right there at their facilities.”

County officials said it's important for more people to be trained on how to use Narcan, an emergency nasal spray that can be used to stop an opioid overdose.
Credit Denise Young/WXXI News
County officials said it's important for more people to be trained on how to use Narcan, an emergency nasal spray that can be used to stop an opioid overdose.

Dr. Michael Mendoza, the county’s commissioner of public health, said the Narcan training is an important factor in addressing the opioid crisis.  

“I cannot overstate the importance of having Narcan available and getting trained on how to use this life-saving medication.”

Mendoza also reminded the public that anyone can go to any local pharmacy and obtain a Narcan kit without a prescription.

A Narcan training video is also available on the county’s website, which you can see here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-5aENU_El4">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-5aENU_El4

Denise Young is executive editor of WXXI News.