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Why is There an Opioid Epidemic?

• In 2017 there was an average of 59.8 opioids prescriptions per 100 peopleSullivan, Andrew. “The Opioid Epidemic Is This Generation’s AIDS Crisis”, New York Magazine, March 16, 2017
  in the United States. These prescriptions were intended as temporary relief from major pain events.
• Due to the sedative effects on the part of the brain which regulates breathing, opioids in high doses sometimes cause respiratory failure and death. As a result, 146 people die from opioid overdose in the U.S. every dayhttps://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/maps/rxcounty2017.html.

Is It “That Bad” in Greene County & Columbia County? Yes!

• Greene County has the eighth highest rate of opioid overdose deathshttps://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/opioid/data/pdf/nys_jul19.pdf for 2017 in New York State. There were 32 opioid and 23 heroin overdose emergency department visits in 2017. Columbia and Greene Counties had 618 clients admitted to OASAShttps://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/opioid/data/pdf/nys_jul19.pdf treatment centers for an opioid addiction (including heroin) in 2017https://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/opioid/data/pdf/nys_jul19.pdf and 578 in 2018https://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/opioid/data/pdf/nys_jul19.pdf.
• Columbia County saw a 46.1% increase in deathshttps://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/opioid/data/pdf/nys_jul18.pdf attributable to an opioid pain reliever from 2016 to 2017. Columbia County ranked 12thhttps://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/opioid/data/pdf/nys_jul19.pdf in New York State for opioid emergency department visits with 51 in 2017. They had 45 heroin overdose emergency departmenthttps://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/opioid/data/pdf/nys_jul19.pdf visits. Columbia & Greene County had 69 opioid overdose patientshttps://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/opioid/data/pdf/nys_jul19.pdf treated in the ER during 2018.
• In 2016, there were 56,000 12- to 17-year oldsSAMHSA Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, National Survey on Drug Use and
  Health. abusing prescription drugs in New York State.
• People with an opioid addiction who succumbed to an overdose are mostly white, working-class, and live in a rural area.Sullivan, Andrew. “The Opioid Epidemic Is This Generation’s AIDS Crisis”, New York Magazine, March 16, 2017

BECOME AN NYS CRPA TODAY

Begin your journey by becoming a NYS CRPA TODAY! This program is funded via the 2018 Opioid Grant and provided by the Columbia County Department of Health. A NYS CRPA (Certified Recovery Peer Advocate- Provisional) Certification requires a minimum of 46 hours. To learn more and to view the training schedule visit.