A Division of Cornerstone Family Healthcare
HVCS’ Ulster County Outreach Program is offering a free virtual Narcan training on Monday, June 26, 2023 at 11:00 am. Participants who complete the training will be sent information on obtaining a free Narcan kit with two lifesaving doses of nasal inhalant Narcan.
To sign up, visit this page.
Per NPR:
The overdose-reversing drug Narcan could soon be available to buy over the counter without a prescription, the Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday.
The FDA’s approval of the nasal spray Narcan — the brand name for the drug naloxone — means the medication could be more widely available across the U.S. as the country continues to grapple with an opioid epidemic.
“Today’s action paves the way for the life-saving medication to reverse an opioid overdose to be sold directly to consumers in places like drug stores, convenience stores, grocery stores and gas stations, as well as online,” the FDA said in a statement.
Emergent BioSolutions, the drug company that produces Narcan, said on Wednesday that it hoped to make the nasal spray available on store shelves and at online retailers by late summer. It did not immediately say how much it would cost.
HVCS offers free Narcan trainings and kits. Talk to our Health Hub program for more information on free trainings near you.
“Today’s landmark FDA OTC approval for Narcan Nasal Spray marks a historic milestone as we have delivered on our commitment to make this important emergency treatment widely accessible, given the alarming rates of opioid overdoses occurring across the country,” Emergent BioSolutions CEO Robert G. Kramer said in a statement.
Some states and harm-reduction groups have offered naloxone for free to residents. But typically those who wanted to buy Narcan had to obtain it at a pharmacy with a prescription.
Public health experts, harm-reduction advocates and many politicians have argued that those barriers meant fewer people would get the life-saving medication they needed in time.
The FDA approval comes as the U.S. continues to see a staggering number of opioid-related deaths, driven in large part by the spread of synthetic opioids such as illicit fentanyl.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 101,751 reported fatal overdoses in the 12-month period ending in October.
“We can prevent overdoses and save lives by making naloxone more accessible, and at the same time, we can ensure equitable access to essential health care,” Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement.
The specific dose approved for over-the-counter sales is the 4 milligram (mg) naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray. Other formulations and dosages of the drug would still require a prescription, the FDA said.
The administration first approved Narcan nasal spray in 2015 as a prescription drug.
Capacitación de Narcan en español Jueves, 9 de marzo de 2023 de 6 pm a 7 pm en la Biblioteca Pública de Mt. Kisco, 100 E. Main St., Mt. Kisco, NY 10549
“Safer Choices” Campaign Designed to Promote Tools and Knowledge to Reduce Overdose Deaths in New York
ALBANY, N.Y. (February 9, 2023) – The New York State Department of Health today announced the launch of a new harm reduction campaign, “Safer Choices,” to help prevent overdose deaths across New York. The multi-media campaign, starting with a focus on social media platforms and web-based resources, is meant to equip individuals with an understanding of how to reduce overdose, as deadly fentanyl continues to be found in a wide variety of drugs. The campaign also continues to emphasize the importance of naloxone as a life-saving tool in the event of an overdose.
“To help reduce the number of overdose deaths across the state, we need to make sure people who use drugs, and their family members and friends, know how to reduce the risk of overdose and how to respond should an overdose occur,” Acting State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. “This new campaign will not only save lives, but it will also serve to help reduce the bias and discrimination associated with a substance use disorder diagnosis.”
The campaign shares helpful information and steps for family members, friends, and persons who use drugs. Tips for family members and friends strongly recommending carrying naloxone in case they witness an overdose, as well as information about Opioid Overdose Training programs across the state and about the Naloxone Co-payment Assistance Program (N-CAP), which can cover co-payments for naloxone of up to $40.
These important messages focus on other life-saving steps that can be taken, which include testing drugs for fentanyl contamination. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is 50-100 times stronger than heroin, has been found in powder cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, molly/MDMA, counterfeit Xanax, other pills, and powder sold as heroin. In addition, the campaign advises individuals to never use opioids and other drugs alone, and to know that, in case of an overdose, calling 911 will not result in a possession charge. Persons who use drugs are also encouraged to carry naloxone and know how to administer this life-saving drug.
More information about the new harm reduction campaign can be found at https://www.health.ny.gov/saferchoices.
This latest campaign builds on the Department’s ongoing work to support a variety of harm reduction initiatives. Other programs include the Local Health Department Initiative, providing funding to 24 county health departments with the highest overdose rates outside of New York City to bolster primary care, corrections, harm reduction, emergency departments, public safety, and more; over 900 registered Opioid Overdose Prevention Programs, which provide training to non-medical individuals to recognize opioid overdoses and provide naloxone at no cost to the participant. The Department also operates New York MATTERS, an electronic referral system for connecting individuals with opioid use disorder to local treatment and harm reduction services.
Additionally, the State has authorized 25 Syringe Exchange Programs (SEPs) with over 81 sites statewide. SEPs remain at the forefront of innovation in addressing the needs of New Yorkers who use drugs and lead in the distribution of naloxone to New Yorkers vulnerable to overdose. The State’s 14 Drug User Health Hubs have been built upon the long-standing foundation of SEPs. These Hubs focus on reducing overdose by providing access to buprenorphine, building safety plans with people who have experienced a non-fatal overdose and equipping participants with naloxone.
Governor Hochul’s administration also recently announced more than $8.6 million for innovative programs to treat opioid addiction through grants awarded through New York State’s Opioid Settlement Fund.
People with question or requests for additional information should visit https://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/opioid/
Information on where to find nearby Syringe Exchange Program site locations can be found here.
New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369).
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Contact: New York State Department of Health
518-474-2043 x. 2
New York State Department of Health Launches New Harm Reduction Campaign to Help Reduce Overdoses
“Safer Choices” Campaign Designed to Promote Tools and Knowledge to Reduce Overdose Deaths in New York
ALBANY, N.Y. (February 9, 2023) – The New York State Department of Health today announced the launch of a new harm reduction campaign, “Safer Choices,” to help prevent overdose deaths across New York. The multi-media campaign, starting with a focus on social media platforms and web-based resources, is meant to equip individuals with an understanding of how to reduce overdose, as deadly fentanyl continues to be found in a wide variety of drugs. The campaign also continues to emphasize the importance of naloxone as a life-saving tool in the event of an overdose.
“To help reduce the number of overdose deaths across the state, we need to make sure people who use drugs, and their family members and friends, know how to reduce the risk of overdose and how to respond should an overdose occur,” Acting State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. “This new campaign will not only save lives, but it will also serve to help reduce the bias and discrimination associated with a substance use disorder diagnosis.”
The campaign shares helpful information and steps for family members, friends, and persons who use drugs. Tips for family members and friends strongly recommending carrying naloxone in case they witness an overdose, as well as information about Opioid Overdose Training programs across the state and about the Naloxone Co-payment Assistance Program (N-CAP), which can cover co-payments for naloxone of up to $40.
These important messages focus on other life-saving steps that can be taken, which include testing drugs for fentanyl contamination. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is 50-100 times stronger than heroin, has been found in powder cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, molly/MDMA, counterfeit Xanax, other pills, and powder sold as heroin. In addition, the campaign advises individuals to never use opioids and other drugs alone, and to know that, in case of an overdose, calling 911 will not result in a possession charge. Persons who use drugs are also encouraged to carry naloxone and know how to administer this life-saving drug.
More information about the new harm reduction campaign can be found at https://www.health.ny.gov/saferchoices.
This latest campaign builds on the Department’s ongoing work to support a variety of harm reduction initiatives. Other programs include the Local Health Department Initiative, providing funding to 24 county health departments with the highest overdose rates outside of New York City to bolster primary care, corrections, harm reduction, emergency departments, public safety, and more; over 900 registered Opioid Overdose Prevention Programs, which provide training to non-medical individuals to recognize opioid overdoses and provide naloxone at no cost to the participant. The Department also operates New York MATTERS, an electronic referral system for connecting individuals with opioid use disorder to local treatment and harm reduction services.
Additionally, the State has authorized 25 Syringe Exchange Programs (SEPs) with over 81 sites statewide. SEPs remain at the forefront of innovation in addressing the needs of New Yorkers who use drugs and lead in the distribution of naloxone to New Yorkers vulnerable to overdose. The State’s 14 Drug User Health Hubs have been built upon the long-standing foundation of SEPs. These Hubs focus on reducing overdose by providing access to buprenorphine, building safety plans with people who have experienced a non-fatal overdose and equipping participants with naloxone.
Governor Hochul’s administration also recently announced more than $8.6 million for innovative programs to treat opioid addiction through grants awarded through New York State’s Opioid Settlement Fund.
People with question or requests for additional information should visit https://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/opioid/
Information on where to find nearby Syringe Exchange Program site locations can be found here.
New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369).
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Contact: New York State Department of Health
518-474-2043 x. 2
HVCS, Center for Recovery and T.E.A.M. Newburgh are hosting a Facebook Live event for International Overdose Awareness Day. To view the event, go to www.facebook.com/hudsonvalleycommunityservices. You can use the comments section to share the names of people you’d like to remember on this special occasion.
August 31st is the official observance of International Overdose Awareness Day every year.
For information about our in-person event in Newburgh from 1:00 to 4:00 pm, visit this link.
For information about our Facebook Live event at 6:00 pm, visit this link.
In mid-December, we received an email from the Ulster County Department of Mental Health. They asked if we would be interested in signing on as a subcontractor on a grant from NACCHO: the National Association of City and County Health Officials. Specifically, they wanted to know if we would be up for reviving or rebooting our Mid-Hudson Project Reach Out (PRO) program to provide support and referrals to Ulster County residents with substance use disorder issues. We said yes, collaborated on a grant application, and were very pleased to learn that it was funded!
Street Outreach will offer many of the same services as PRO but is not van-based. Services include referrals to full spectrum addiction treatment (including in- and outpatient services and transportation to intake/admission appointment as needed), Expanded Syringe Access Program (ESAP), Syringe Exchange Program (SEP), Narcan training, HIV/HCV/STI testing counseling and navigation, case management, and food assistance.
Though we wish we could bring back PRO to the entire Mid-Hudson, we are thrilled to restore it to one county at least, and to have found a brand-new funding partner in Ulster County Department of Mental Health.
This opinion was published by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) on January 14, 2021. HVCS concurs and seconds this congratulatory statement.
Washington, D.C.—The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) applauds the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) decision to effectively remove the “X-waiver” requirement for physicians, expanding their ability to utilize medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for patients struggling with opioid use disorder (OUD).
“As emergency physicians, we see every day the devastating effects that the opioid crisis has had on the communities we serve—a crisis that has unfortunately only worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mark Rosenberg, DO, MBA, FACEP, president of ACEP. “Buprenorphine is the most important medication in our arsenal for treating opioid use disorder, which is currently one of the most lethal diseases for Americans.”
In the decision announced on January 14, HHS issued an exemption to the X-waiver requirement for physicians registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) who wish to prescribe buprenorphine and other MAT. While the new guidelines pertain to physicians who treat no more than 30 patients with buprenorphine for opioid use disorder at any one time, ACEP appreciates that the Department recognized the unique nature of emergency medicine and decided not to apply this limitation to hospital-based physicians, including emergency physicians.
The X-waiver presents a major obstacle to “legitimate” patient access to buprenorphine and other MAT. Before today’s announcement, physicians wishing to prescribe buprenorphine outside of opioid treatment programs had to take an eight-hour course and often waited 60 to 90 days to receive the waiver once the course is completed and the license application is submitted. The presence of this X-waiver requirement has also led to misperception about MAT and has increased negative pre-conceived notions about OUD and the treatment of this disease. As a result, some clinicians are hesitant to pursue this DEA license or even engage in treatment of patients with OUD.
Removing the X-waiver and reducing stigma to treating OUD in the emergency department has been a major priority for ACEP. In January 2020, the College hosted the Summit Addressing the Opioid Stigma in the Emergency Department—an event funded by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration as part of its Opioid Response Network in which stakeholders identified strategies and behaviors to reduce practices that perpetuate stigma in the emergency department. ACEP also sent a letter to HHS to illustrate the challenges of the X-waiver and supported H.R. 2482, the “Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment Act of 2019,” which would eliminate the waiver requirement.
Added Dr. Rosenberg, “This is a great day for our patients. The X-waiver was an outdated and cumbersome barrier to treatment, and it exacerbated stigma for those struggling with opioid use disorder. Now, more than ever, we need compassion and action in treating patients with addiction.”
Since the 1980’s, HVCS has provided services throughout Westchester County to people who use drugs, including HIV, STD and Hepatitis C prevention and education, HIV and STD testing, linkage to substance use disorder treatment services, and, when possible, emergency food and supplies. Many of these specific services were provided by our Project Reach Out program (PRO), which travels to Westchester’s urban areas—places hit hardest by the double HIV and opioid epidemics.
We were just approved to offer what is called “second tier syringe exchange” services via our PRO staff. They will be able to provide access to syringes, recoupment of used syringes, Narcan trainings, referrals to treatment, and information about prevention services to people who use drugs (PWUD). This is a form of “peer-delivered” services, where staff are permitted to carry out exchanges wherever they are, without being fixed to a particular location like our other syringe exchange programs in Rockland and in the Mid-Hudson.
This is a significant enhancement to the PRO program and a boon to Westchester’s PWUD population. By being embedded in the community and gaining clients’ trust, we aim to refer even more people to substance use treatment facilities and other services than ever before.
