HUDSON, N.Y. (NEWS10) -“There’s a lot of people that are turning to pills and heroin to cope with many different issues and we have to provide services to help those people,” said Mayor Kamal Johnson. He knew all three people who likely overdosed over the last eight days. They were all under 40.
The suspected overdoses happened in Columbia County. Two of which specifically in Hudson. “I think that it’s just an epidemic that we’re dealing with right now,” stated Mayor Johnson.
The Columbia-Greene Addiction Coalition urges the community to check in on loved ones they suspect might be using. “The majority of fatal overdoses happen in private homes. They often happen when there is someone there who can administer Narcan but because drug use is so stigmatized, people who are using substances don’t want to tell their loved ones that this is going on. So they hide it from them,” described Hannah Calhoun, Executive Director.
She works to make sure there are reversal drugs and test strips available to the community. For example, the Henry Hudson Waterfront Park has a Naloxone box that anyone can take from. A small step in the right direction.
“In 2021, Columbia and Greene counties peaked in fatal overdoses. Greene County ranked #1 in the state outside of New York City. In the last year, we have seen a decrease up to 25%. That’s happening nationally, that’s also happening locally,” said Calhoun.
Officials are asking anyone in need to call or text the Columbia County Pathways to Recovery helpline at 877-467-3365 to find local resources or someone to talk to. You can also call Never Use Alone, at 800-484-3731 to speak to someone while using to make sure you are safe or someone can come to use Narcan.
Columbia Memorial Health, the local Hudson hospital, sent NEWS10’s Anthony Krolikowski the following statement:
Columbia Memorial Health offers a wide range of care options for members of our community who are using or in recovery. Partnerships with community-based addiction and recovery service organizations like Columbia-Greene Addiction Coalition, Twin County Recovery Services, Greener Pathways, and others allow us to better understand and serve the needs of our patients. We also offer coordinated care across emergency department, inpatient, and outpatient settings, and trained specialists in both our emergency department and primary care offices, which allow us to be here to provide care to those who need it, when they need it most.
Rob Sager, Senior Marketing Specialist.
The Columbia-Greene Addiction Coalition sent over the following list of local resources:
- Narcan Vending Machine- 710 Union Street Hudson, MHA building 24/7
- Greener Pathways Mobile Outreach
- Columbia County Department of Health- which has naloxboxes in the following locations- hudson waterfront bathrooms, bliss towers, Kinderhook Library, Philmont Library, Community College, Claverack Library, Columbia County Mental Health Youth Clubhouses of MHACG
- Artlife717-717 Columbia Street, Hudson
- ReEntry Columbia
- Taghkanic Town Board Naloxbox- next to the free fridge
- Catskill Free Fridge
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