http://www.oleantimesherald.com/news/health-director-cattaraugus-county-s-heroin-opioid-crisis-not-worsening/article_3202e6c8-1207-11e8-9c63-cbf70bd70e2f.htmlThe county ended 2017 with 11 opioid deaths, said Dr. Kevin Watkins, county public health director and chairman of the Heroin/Opioid Task Force. That follows 10 confirmed heroin overdose deaths in 2016.
Watkins added opioid deaths were on a downward trend statewide, although the state has not yet finalized the numbers and some deaths may be reclassified as secondary to opioid use.
Besides the number of heroin/overdose deaths, Watkins said the Southern Tier Overdose Prevention Program (STOPP) has noticed a decreased number of calls to the EMS system and first responders police and firefighters are seeing a downward trend in overdoses. There are fewer cans of Narcan, an opioid antidote, being used as well.
“Emergency room admissions for overdoses has also started to decrease,†Watkins said.
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