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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.
Free Buprenorphine Waiver Eligibility Training
Thursday, September 6th, 2018The NYSDOH AIDS Institute in partnership with Westchester Medical Center (WMC) Health Network Performing Provider System (PPS), Westchester County Department of Health, and Hudson Valley Community Services are hosting a Free Buprenorphine Waiver Eligibility Training for Clinical Providers (Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, and Medical Residents) on Saturday, September 22nd, 2018 from 9:00AM to 2:00PM at the Westchester County Center, 198 Central Ave, 2nd Floor, Meeting Room E, White Plains, NY 10606.
Attached is a flyer with further information, including location, online registration, and more details. Further information will be sent out to confirmed attendees. Registration closes on September 19th at 5:00PM.
Trainer:
Kelly Ramsey, MD, Hudson River Healthcare, Poughkeepsie, NY
Kimberly Sue, MD, Harm Reduction Coalition, New York, NY
Please Note: 4.5 CME Credits will be made available (see attached for how to claim them after the training), and must be claimed no later than October 6th at 8:00PM. This is the first half of the minimum required 8 hours of training, and the second half must be completed online after attendance to the live training. Currently NPs & PAs are required to take an additional 16 hours of online training which is available on the PCSS-MAT website (Part 2).
For more information about NYSDOH (outside of NYC) buprenorphine related trainings, mentoring, coaching, technical assistance and more, please contact us at buprenorphine@health.ny.gov.
For more information about NYCDOHMH (NYC/5 boroughs only) buprenorphine related trainings, mentoring, coaching, technical assistance and more, please contact buprenorphine@health.nyc.gov.
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.
Sullivan County Opioid Abuse Prevention Conference
Thursday, August 9th, 2018OCTOBER 3, 2018
Bethel Woods Center for The Arts -Event Gallery
Featured Speakers:
Tom Kersting, PhD, MA, LPC: “Digitally Distracted: Parenting in the Age of Technology”
Michael Nerney, BS: “The Adolescent Brain: Substance Abuse and Other Risky Behavior”
Local Speakers:
Nancy McGraw, LCSW, MBA, Public Health Director, Sullivan County: Background and Update
Frank Barone, Hudson Valley Community Services: “I was Twelve: My Story of the Road to Recovery”
Martin Colavito, MHS, CASAC, Catholic Charities: “mindful prevention – what really works”
REGISTRATION INFORMATION:
Registration Fee: $25 per person
Register here
PREREGISTRATION IS REQUIRED
SEATING IS LIMITED
Sign-In and Welcome Breakfast begin at 8:00 am
Conference begins promptly at 9:00 am
Continental Breakfast and Lunch Included
For more information, contact Sullivan County Public Health Services at: 845.292.5910
Funding for this conference was made possible (in part) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply
endorsement by the U.S. Government.
CASAC CEUs PENDING
International Overdose Awareness Day
Wednesday, July 11th, 2018
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.
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.”