Broome County Health Department officials are sounding the alarm over the number of drug overdoses so far this year.

In a news release, Broome County’s Opioid Overdose Prevention Coordinator and Chair of the Broome Opioid Awareness Council (BOAC), Marissa Knapp says the county is on a track that would exceed the highest number of overdoses since Broome began reporting them.

Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News (file)
Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News (file)
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The county has had 22 suspected fatal overdoses and 111 reported non-fatal overdoses for the second quarter of the year, surpassing the number of fatal overdoses in the County in both 2028 and 2019 when Broome had some of the lowest fatal overdose numbers.

The totals for January to June so far are 44 suspected fatal overdoses and 258 suspected non-fatal overdoses.

Knapp appeals to all community members to educate themselves and their loved ones on what she called “this important Public Health issue” and take steps to help prevent overdoses.

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Health officials say residents can stay informed with the Spike Auto Text program that alerts community members, professionals and loved ones by text when there is an increase in overdoses.  The anonymous pilot program can be accessed by texting SPIKE to 1-855-963-5669, That is 855-9-OD-KNOW, and follow the prompts.

People are also encouraged to be trained in the use of the reversal drug: Narcan.

Trainings are available through the Addiction Center of Broome County (Phone 607-723-7308), Helio Health (phone 607-296-3072), Southern Tier AIDS Program (STAP) (Phone 607-237-0497), Truth Pharm (Phone 607-296-3016) or United Health Services (Phone 607-762-2200 or UHS Addiction Medicine (Phone 607-762-2901.)

People with addiction disorder and anyone who uses narcotics are urged to practice harm reduction like to never use alone and use fentanyl test strips.

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