Overdose deaths continue to rise in Tompkins County. Where to find support

Tompkins County Whole Health (TCWH) recently published data on drug related deaths in 2023 which indicates overdose deaths in the county are not slowing down.

The Tompkins County Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed three overdose deaths in 2024 thus far, with as many as three additional cases pending toxicology reports.

The recent data follows a statewide trend of increased opioid-related overdose deaths since 2018.

A county report from August 2023 highlights the dangers of illicit “street” drugs, which it reports are often contaminated with synthetic substances such as Fentanyl or Xylazine, which can increase the potency and overdose risk of the substance, typically without the users knowledge.

The Southern Tier AIDS Program (STAP Inc.) provides free on-site drug checking and reports that of the 105 local “heroin” or “dope” samples they have collected in the past 9 months from Tompkins and Broome County, 100% contained Fentanyl and 74% contained Xylazine.

Though the presence of Fentanyl and Xylazine in heroin has been constant, the amount present in each sample varies greatly, increasing the risk of overdose and death, TCWH reports.

“Assume all illicit street drugs are contaminated with dangerous compounds that significantly increase chance of death from an overdose.” Tompkins County Whole Health Commissioner Frank Kruppa said in a statement on the recently published data. “If you are using illicit street drugs, please have your drugs tested, either at STAP or by using testing strips, and never use alone. We implore everyone in our community to pick up a Narcan kit and become trained in its use.”

How you can help

Narcan or Naloxone is a medicine that can reverse the effects of an overdose from opioids including fentanyl and heroin by temporarily displacing the opioids from the opioid receptors in the users brain.

“In its nasal spray form, Narcan is simple to use and effective,” Kruppa said. “Having a Narcan kit and being prepared to use it may save someone’s life.”

Narcan is available at pharmacies due to a standing order from the New York State Department of Health, and can be ordered online – alongside substance testing strips – through the state Office of Addiction Services and Supports.

The office also offers overdose free prevention and harm reduction information via its Project COPE website.

Narcan kits, as well as Fentanyl and Xylazine testing strips are also available at no cost at Tompkins County Whole Health, Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services, REACH Medical and the Southern Tier AIDS Program.

“We must take steps to reverse the deadly trend that we’re seeing,” Kruppa said. “This data shows that approximately two or more people are dying each month in our community from an overdose. We are urging everyone to become familiar with overdose prevention resources because we know that many of these deaths are preventable – the Centers for Disease Control reports that nationwide 64.7% of drug overdose deaths had at least one potential opportunity for intervention.”

To learn more about Tompkins County opioid statistics and additional resources, visit https://tompkinscountyny.gov/health/opioids.

This article originally appeared on Ithaca Journal: Tompkins County overdose statistics continue to rise