By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
OLEAN — With a month to go in 2024, overdose deaths in Cattaraugus County are down for the third year in a row.
So far this year, there have been nine overdose deaths — mostly from the synthetic opioid fentanyl.
That is one-third of the number of overdose deaths in 2022, when 27 deaths were reported by the New York State Department of Health.
Overdose deaths this year were lower than in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic started. That year, 12 people died from opioid overdoses. In 2021, the number rose to 13, then 27 in 2022, 25 in 2023 and down to nine in the first 11 months of this year.
This year, seven of the opioid deaths have involved fentanyl and two overdose deaths were blamed on methadone, according to the quarterly fentanyl update to the Cattaraugus County Board of Health by Public Health Director Dr. Kevin D. Watkins.
There were two overdose deaths each in March, April, May and August. In October there was one death from an opioid overdose. In both April and May there were one death each from fentanyl and methadone.
Four deaths from fentanyl and one from methadone were reported in the city Olean, two fentanyl overdose deaths were in Salamanca and one fentanyl and one methadone death was reported in Freedom.
Eight of the overdose deaths occurred at private residences and a fentanyl overdose death August 30 in Olean involved a 31-year-old homeless man whose body was discovered in a dumpster near Main and Front streets.
Those who died from opioid overdoses ranged in age from 31 to 62.
What’s behind the significant drop in opioid overdose deaths over the past several years?
Watkins said the widespread availability of Narcan and Naloxone, two opioid antidotes that can reverse overdose symptoms, are the biggest lifesavers — along with police, EMTs and other first responders who administered the antidotes.
In the first 10 months of this year, there were 72 emergency calls for Cattaraugus County EMTs for a possible overdose.
According to Southern Tier Health Systems that supply Narcan to first responders and instruct in its use, 68 of those calls resulted in saving a life from administering Narcan.
The Cattaraugus County Health Department also provided free fentanyl test strips to detect if the opioid had been added to other drugs. Also distributed were Xylanine test strips, to detect a dangerous synthetic tranquilizer that is also added to various drugs.
These harm reduction measures save lives, Watkins said.
Deterra bags, which are designed to render unused medication in homes inert, are also keeping dangerous drugs out of the hands of addicts and others.
Lastly, medication-assisted treatment is also helping some people from relapsing into drug use. There are four main medications to aid in treatment of opioid addiction:
- Buprenorphine is an opioid that only partially triggers opioid receptors, so it can help with withdrawal without making a person feel high or sleepy.
- Suboxone. It is buprenorphine combined with naloxone to limit abuse. It is available as a tablet, film, injection, or implant inserted under the skin.
- Methadone. A longer-acting, full opioid agonist, methadone reduces withdrawal symptoms and cravings and through the development of cross-tolerance, may diminish the euphoric high of other opioids, should they be used during methadone treatment.
- Naltrexone. An opioid receptor antagonist blocks the euphoric and sedating effects of opioids. When utilized for treatment, it may help to suppress opioid cravings and discourage continued opioid misuse.
