SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — The opioid crisis has been an issue in the United States for over a decade, but as of late, it’s become deadlier and harder to manage.
While heroin was the main drug of concern in the past, fentanyl has forced medical personnel and substance abuse counselors to find new ways to combat overdoses. What makes managing fentanyl overdoses so difficult to prevent is the drug’s presence in other substances, according to Mariah Senecal-Reilly, the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Initiatives Program Coordinator for the Onondaga County Health Department.
“It’s virtually undetectable in other substances, so it’s used a lot to cut other things,” said Senecal-Reilly of the presence of fentanyl in other drugs. “But also, since it’s so inexpensive, it’s also kind of replacing heroin within our community and other communities across the U.S.”
In Onondaga County, heroin did not cause an overdose death in the first half of 2022, according to data released by the Onondaga County Health Department. Fentanyl and other illicit substances caused the fatalities, a stark contrast to previous years.
She also explained that because fentanyl is so difficult to trace in other drugs, and people may unknowingly ingest it while taking other substances. Given how potent the drug is, it only takes a small amount of fentanyl to cause an overdose, making this a particularly concerning issue.
However, there are options for those struggling with addiction offered by both the county and other healthcare facilities. Onondaga County offers a number of harm reduction initiatives.
“Harm reduction is helping somebody be as safe as they can with whatever point they’re at,” Senecal-Reilly explained. “That could mean instead of using five times a day, going down to two. It really looks very different for every person.” The county also provides information on treatment facilities to anyone interested.
While these initiatives may seem irrelevant to those who are not actively using, there are still plenty of things everyone else can do to help those in need, according to Senecal-Reilly.
“We encourage everyone to get trained, know the signs of an overdose, and carry Naloxone,” said Senecal-Reilly. “We want you to be prepared if you’re ever in a situation where you could potentially save someone’s life. It would be very terrible to witness that and not be able to do anything.”
The county offers free Narcan training to anyone who wants it, along with fentanyl testing strips, bloodborne and sexually transmitted disease testing, and overdose rescue kits. Beginning next week, the county will begin a syringe exchange program. Other facilities offer similar services, including ACR Health.