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Posts Tagged ‘heroin’
New Video: Fentanyl Test Strips
Friday, March 26th, 2021HVCS & St. Lukes Cornwall Hospital Connect Overdose Patients To Long-Term Aftercare Help
Friday, February 22nd, 2019
When someone comes to a standard emergency room because of an opioid overdose, the staff do everything they can to revive them–but what happens after that? At St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital (SLCH) in Newburgh, they provide overdose patients with a short-term prescription for buprenorphine, a pharmaceutical which prevents withdrawl symptoms without providing a high. This short course of buprenorphine is known as induction and it’s the first step in assisting the client to discontinue or markedly diminish their use of other opioids. SLCH can only offer the induction phase, not a longer-term prescription program, though.
That’s where our Health Hub comes in. We recently began a collaboration with SLCH in which we transition clients from the induction phase to long-term bupe use (known as a Medication Assisted Treatment Program or MAT).
Hospital staff and clients appreciate that HVCS’ services are low-threshold. Clients who come to the Health Hub are able to receive Buprenorphine treatment with out the fear of being discharged because they either relapse or are using another substance. We expect for this collaboration to be very successful and are looking forward to work closely with other hospitals as they begin to look at the same model as St Luke’s Cornwall Hospital.
Press from HVCS’ International Overdose Awareness Day Event
Tuesday, September 4th, 2018
Devan Marano shares her personal story at the Overdose Awareness Day observance in Newburgh.
On Friday, August 31, 2018, Hudson Valley Community Services partnered with Catholic Charities’ TEAM Newburgh to hold a local observance of International Overdose Awareness Day in front of HVCS’ Newburgh office.
International Overdose Awareness Day is an annual global event held on August 31st which aims to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of a drug-related death. It also acknowledges the grief felt by families and friends remembering those who have died or had a permanent injury as a result of drug overdose. International Overdose Awareness Day spreads the message that the tragedy of overdose death is preventable.
The opioid/heroin addiction crisis has had a profound impact on the Hudson Valley over the past few years. In 2016, 367 residents died from opioid overdoses according to the New York State Heroin and Opioid Task Force, and available data on the first three quarters of 2017 suggests similar totals for last year. The epidemic has had a lasting impact on friends, families and neighborhoods—not to mention those who struggle with addiction. HVCS, other healthcare and social support agencies, law enforcement, and local governments have committed resources to prevent overdose deaths, increase the number of residents who seek help for their addiction disorders, and stem the tide of this epidemic. This event was an opportunity to honor and remember those we have lost to addiction disorders via overdose, and continue to educate the community on available resources.
The Hudson Valley’s International Overdose Awareness Day event featured a forum for personal experience speakers, Narcan trainings, educational opportunities, tributes to those lost to overdose, a social media awareness wall, activities to engage children and youth, and free snacks.
Check out local press coverage of the event:
Spectrum News: http://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/hudson-valley/news/2018/08/31/overdose-awareness-day-hudson-valley
Times Herald Record: Story (http://www.recordonline.com/news/20180831/overdose-survivors-impart-lifesaving-training) and slide show (http://www.recordonline.com/photogallery/TH/20180831/PHOTOGALLERY/831009999/PH/1)
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- Dawn Wilkins from TEAM Newburgh shared stats and data about the local opioid pandemic.
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- HVCS’ Frank Barone shared his personal experiences with addiction.
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- Andrew Reid moderated the panel discussion.
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- Jovanny and Stephanie offered up HIV prevention trivia at one of the information booths.
HVCS’ Frank Barone To Speak At Sullivan Co Opioid Abuse Conference
Thursday, August 9th, 2018HVCS’ Frank Barone, a member of our Syringe Exchange Program staff, will be on the panel at the upcoming 2018 Sullivan County Opioid Abuse Prevention Conference at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts on Wednesday, October 3, 2018. Frank is one of the featured local speakers and his segment is entitled, “I Was Twelve: My Story of the Road to Recovery.”
Get all the details and register for the conference here.
Naloxone Co-Payment Assistance Program Available from NYS
Tuesday, June 12th, 2018As a result of the opioid epidemic, the Surgeon General issued an advisory to emphasize the importance of expanding the awareness and availability of naloxone. Opioid overdose deaths have been on a steady incline in New York State (NYS) and have increased by 180% from 2010 to 2016.1 Knowing how to use naloxone and keeping it within reach can save a life.
Within NYS there are over 2,100 pharmacies that can dispense naloxone with a standing order. Additionally, NYS has implemented the Naloxone Co-Payment Assistance Program, (N-CAP). N-CAP provides co-payment and cost-sharing assistance to people with prescription coverage as part of their health plan to cover co-payments and cost-sharing for naloxone up to $40, providing lower or no out of pocket costs.
Key elements of accessing naloxone at pharmacies include:
- Individuals can get naloxone at a pharmacy with a standing order and do not need a prescription. They ask for naloxone at the pharmacy counter and present their insurance information and an N-CAP palm card.
- Individuals are not required to enroll in N-CAP.
- Individuals who cannot access naloxone through a pharmacy can access naloxone through registered opioid overdose prevention programs, including individuals using naloxone in the line of duty and people who are uninsured. For a directory of Opioid Overdose Prevention Programs, please click here.
- Pharmacies eligible for co-payment reimbursement for naloxone must participate in the NYS AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP).
- N-CAP promotional materials are available to order; we encourage you to display these and share them with your clients.
We play an important role in addressing this public health crisis. I am asking for your support to save lives from fatal opioid overdoses by encouraging people to carry naloxone. Thank you for the work you do to maintain the health of all New Yorkers.
If a pharmacy you work with is interested in a standing order, or have other questions, please contact: naloxonepharmacy@health.ny.gov.
New Sullivan Co Helpline Ad Features HVCS Employee Frank Barone
Monday, May 21st, 2018
Frank Barone, HVCS’ Syringe Exchange Program Prevention Specialist, recently recorded a public service ad for the Sullivan County Helpline. In less than a minute, you’ll get a sense of Frank’s past and why he’s so passionate about his work here at HVCS.
Frank has been a panelist and speaker at several recent conferences and town halls about the opioid epidemic, with more speaking engagements to come.
Thanks to the Sullivan County Health Department for sharing this with us, and for partnering with HVCS to reach more people with addiction disorders in Sullivan County.
Audio Player
Narcan-Resistant Fentanyl Making Its Way Closer to Hudson Valley
Tuesday, March 6th, 2018This is a bit of old news, but it’s being circulated again in the substance abuse treatment field to make sure users are fully aware of the risks, and so that Narcan carriers know that they may be up against a powerful new drug.
According to Narconon Suncoast:
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“Acryl-Fentanyl is synthesized, which means it’s artificially created and has no natural origin (remember, heroin’s natural origin is a poppy plant). Not only is it manmade, but it’s being created in China, like most other research chemicals and synthetic drugs and being smuggled into the United States.
DEA Special Agent In-Charge, David Battiste said, “If Acryl-fentanyl is introduced into the population, it can have devastating effects. You would have to reuse Narcan if you are revived from Narcan at all.”
That’s right folks, this stuff is completely resistant to Narcan. Like Special Agent Battiste said, it’s unlikely that Narcan will reverse its effects and, if it does, it will take multiple, multiple doses. We’re already having enough of a problem with the strength of opiates these days. Narcan is struggling to keep up and continue to save the lives of those who overdose. Acryl-Fentanyl is going to make this problem a whole lot worse and this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the devastating effects this drug is going to have on our society.”
HVCS’ Frank Barone Speaks At An Opioid Overdose Forum on January 20, 2018
Monday, January 22nd, 2018
Our very own Frank Barone, who works in our Syringe Exchange Program, was among the panelists at an opioid overdose town hall held on Saturday, January 20, 2018 at the Newburgh Armory. The town hall was organized by NYS Assemblyman Frank Skartados and featured several voices from those impacted by the opioid epidemic and calls for compassionate treatment for people who use opioids.
Thanks to Orie Givens from Spectrum News for this press coverage (video).
“Frank Barone from Hudson Valley Community Services survived his addiction and now helps others dealing with opioid use, working with a syringe exchange program.
“You can read a hundred books and you think that you know about addiction, but until you’ve actually been through addiction and have experienced it, you’re never going to truly understand what it’s like to be a heroin addict on the streets,” said Barone.”
TOWN HALL ON OPIOID OVERDOSE THIS SATURDAY IN NEWBURGH
Tuesday, January 16th, 2018
New York State is in crisis. Opioid overdose now takes the lives of more New Yorkers than homicides, traffic accidents and suicides combined. New York State Assemblyman Frank Skartados invites Hudson Valley residents to become a part of the solution and to join together to discuss a compassionate community response to opioid overdose deaths in New York’s 104th District. On Saturday, January 20th from 2-5 p.m. New York State Assemblyman Frank K. Skartados will be holding a town hall and forum panel on opioid overdose at the Newburgh Armory Unity Center 321 S William St, Newburgh, NY 12550.
AM Skartados has partnered with Hudson Valley Community Services (HVCS) and other agencies, including Adelphi University, Cornerstone Family Health, Drug Policy Alliance, Hudson Valley Community Services, Team Newburgh United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region, and VOCAL-NY, to join people impacted by opioid use with experts in the fields of science, public health, criminal justice, and drug policy. HVCS’ Frank Barone, a member of our Syringe Exchange Program staff, will take part in a panel discussion.
This event will begin a compassionate and scientifically-informed discussion about drug use, overdose and New Yorkers’ best prospects for saving lives and living well. Information about local services available to people who use drugs and people in recovery will also be provided. Overdose and addiction affect us in a variety of ways.
The following experts and residents will field questions during the forum:
Keynote: Carl Hart, PhD Columbia University and Drug Policy Alliance
- Hart is a Scientist, Activist, and Educator who is working to drive a compassionate response to people who use drugs and ensure that science informs policy.
Kassandra Frederique, MSW Drug Policy Alliance
- Frederique is the New York State Director of DPAleadinge their statewide mission to advance those policies and attitudes that best reduce the harms of both drug use and drug prohibition, and to promote the sovereignty of individuals over their minds and bodies.
Judith Branche, MD, CornerStone Family Health
- Branch is the Medical Director of the Center for Recovery at Cornerstone Family Health Center.
Jeff Kaufmann, Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP)
- Kaufmann was a police officer with the New York Police Department. While earning a law degree and and working with the NYPD’s Legal Bureau became critical of New York State’s drug policies.
Frank Barone, Hudson Valley Community Services
- Barone is a Syringe Exchange program prevention specialist and uses harm reduction techniques to engage people who use drugs and to minimize the harm use causes.
Lauren Mandel, RN Newburgh resident and nurse
- Mandel is a Newburgh resident who has practiced nursing for decades. Her son Zane died after using an opioid in September.
Sgt. Julio Fernandez, Adelphi University School of Social Work
- Fernandez works to analyze local data on opioid overdoses and hospitalizations to create a data-driven community response at Adelphi’s Hudson Valley Center.
Those interested may register online at: https://vocal.ourpowerbase.net/civicrm/event/register?cid=0&reset=1&id=1598
or share and follow the Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1854211644870945/
Calendar Information:
What: Town Hall on Opioid Overdose
Where: Newburgh Armory Unity Center, Larkin Center, 321 S. William St., Newburgh NY 12550
When: Saturday, January 20, 2018, 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Who: Concerned residents of New York’s 104th District and those affected by and concerned about opioid overdoses
More information: Contact Jawanza Williams, jawanza@vocal-ny.org
NYS Announces New Program for Low- or No-Cost Naloxone Access
Monday, October 23rd, 2017
For individuals with prescription coverage through their health insurance plans, this program will cover the cost of co-payments for naloxone up to $40 so there are no or lower out-of-pocket expenses when accessing naloxone at participating pharmacies. All Medicaid Managed Care Plans cover at least one formulation of naloxone, and the vast majority of private insurance plans also cover naloxone.
There are 2,000 pharmacies throughout the State who dispense naloxone with a physician standing order. Individuals getting naloxone at these pharmacies do not need a prescription. There is no individual enrollment requirement to use N-CAP. Maximizing pharmacy distribution increases access to naloxone.
For a directory of pharmacies with standing orders, please access the link below:
https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/aids/general/opioid_overdose_prevention/directories.htm
This directory is updated monthly.
Individuals who cannot access naloxone from pharmacies will continue to access naloxone through registered programs including individuals using naloxone in the line of duty and people who are uninsured.
Additional information regarding N-CAP can be found at: www.health.ny.gov/overdose.