New York State officials are concerned among health and other authorities about an increase in deaths from opioid overdoses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Attorney General Letitia James says the numbers reinforce that all money coming through drug manufacturer settlements should be directed to local opioid control communities.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced this week that the number of overdose deaths in the United States exceeded 93,000 last year, a record high. The new record is due to the easy availability of drugs combined with the stress of lockdowns and other components of the pandemic, as well as the closure of many support services.
Meanwhile, Broome County has a new text alert program to help tackle overdose. The Department of Health is working with Partnership to End Addiction on the new measure, which will allow residents to receive free SPIKE Alert notifications on their mobile devices when an area experiences an increase in overdose.
It is hoped that the text warning will enable quick action by parents, relatives, caregivers, medical professionals, community groups, and first responders. The pilot program is anonymous. Residents can register by SMS: SPIKE at 1-855-963-5669 and follow the directions.
Residents are also reminded to have a Narcan kit on hand and to be trained on how to use the overdose reverser. The Broome Opioid Awareness Council says people can also call ahead and go to their local pharmacy and use the naloxone copayment support program to get an overdose antidote without a prescription from a doctor.
Inside Amazon: A Detailed History of America’s Largest Online Retailer
Stacker has compiled a list of key moments in the history of Amazon and its current business from various sources. Here’s a look at the events that turned an online bookstore into a global conglomerate and a self-made entrepreneur the second richest man in the world.
Why do cats have whiskers? Why do they meow? Why do they nap so much? And answers to 47 other cat questions:
Why do they meow? Why do they nap so much? Why do they have whiskers? Cats and their undeniably adorable babies known as kittens are mysterious creatures. After all, their larger relatives are some of the most mystical and deadly animals in the world. However, many questions related to domestic cats have perfectly logical answers. Here’s a look at some of the most common kitten and cat questions and the answers cat lovers are looking for.
