For more details on HVCS’ live and virtual commemorizations of IOAD 2021, please visit this page.
On August 21, 2020, HVCS observed International Overdose Awareness Day with a Facebook Live event. Personal experience speakers, community service providers, and HVCS staff all recorded videos for the occasion. We wrapped things up with a Narcan training. This event was sponsored by PCSB.
On Friday, August 31, 2018, Hudson Valley Community Services partnered with Catholic Charities’ TEAM Newburgh to hold a local observance of International Overdose Awareness Day in front of HVCS’ Newburgh office.
International Overdose Awareness Day is an annual global event held on August 31st which aims to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of a drug-related death. It also acknowledges the grief felt by families and friends remembering those who have died or had a permanent injury as a result of drug overdose. International Overdose Awareness Day spreads the message that the tragedy of overdose death is preventable.
The opioid/heroin addiction crisis has had a profound impact on the Hudson Valley over the past few years. In 2016, 367 residents died from opioid overdoses according to the New York State Heroin and Opioid Task Force, and available data on the first three quarters of 2017 suggests similar totals for last year. The epidemic has had a lasting impact on friends, families and neighborhoods—not to mention those who struggle with addiction. HVCS, other healthcare and social support agencies, law enforcement, and local governments have committed resources to prevent overdose deaths, increase the number of residents who seek help for their addiction disorders, and stem the tide of this epidemic. This event was an opportunity to honor and remember those we have lost to addiction disorders via overdose, and continue to educate the community on available resources.
The Hudson Valley’s International Overdose Awareness Day event featured a forum for personal experience speakers, Narcan trainings, educational opportunities, tributes to those lost to overdose, a social media awareness wall, activities to engage children and youth, and free snacks.
Spectrum News: http://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/hudson-valley/news/2018/08/31/overdose-awareness-day-hudson-valley
Times Herald Record: Story (http://www.recordonline.com/news/20180831/overdose-survivors-impart-lifesaving-training) and slide show (http://www.recordonline.com/photogallery/TH/20180831/PHOTOGALLERY/831009999/PH/1)
Narcan Training and Community AWARENESS with Parents, High School Students and Adolescents sharing their experiences, hope and their peer to peer program that helps them help others.
Narcan (naloxone) is an opioid antagonist and is used for the complete or partial reversal of opioid overdose, including respiratory depression. It is also used for diagnosis of suspected or known acute opioid overdose and also for blood pressure support in septic shock. Free Narcan Kits will be given after the training.
Sponsored by New Paltz High School, Awareness Inc. and Hudson Valley Community Services.
RSVP Required To Reserve A Space: ucawarenessprogram@gmail.c
Snow Date: February 8, 2018
Our very own Frank Barone, who works in our Syringe Exchange Program, was among the panelists at an opioid overdose town hall held on Saturday, January 20, 2018 at the Newburgh Armory. The town hall was organized by NYS Assemblyman Frank Skartados and featured several voices from those impacted by the opioid epidemic and calls for compassionate treatment for people who use opioids.
Thanks to Orie Givens from Spectrum News for this press coverage (video).
“Frank Barone from Hudson Valley Community Services survived his addiction and now helps others dealing with opioid use, working with a syringe exchange program.
“You can read a hundred books and you think that you know about addiction, but until you’ve actually been through addiction and have experienced it, you’re never going to truly understand what it’s like to be a heroin addict on the streets,” said Barone.”
New York State is in crisis. Opioid overdose now takes the lives of more New Yorkers than homicides, traffic accidents and suicides combined. New York State Assemblyman Frank Skartados invites Hudson Valley residents to become a part of the solution and to join together to discuss a compassionate community response to opioid overdose deaths in New York’s 104th District. On Saturday, January 20th from 2-5 p.m. New York State Assemblyman Frank K. Skartados will be holding a town hall and forum panel on opioid overdose at the Newburgh Armory Unity Center 321 S William St, Newburgh, NY 12550.
AM Skartados has partnered with Hudson Valley Community Services (HVCS) and other agencies, including Adelphi University, Cornerstone Family Health, Drug Policy Alliance, Hudson Valley Community Services, Team Newburgh United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region, and VOCAL-NY, to join people impacted by opioid use with experts in the fields of science, public health, criminal justice, and drug policy. HVCS’ Frank Barone, a member of our Syringe Exchange Program staff, will take part in a panel discussion.
This event will begin a compassionate and scientifically-informed discussion about drug use, overdose and New Yorkers’ best prospects for saving lives and living well. Information about local services available to people who use drugs and people in recovery will also be provided. Overdose and addiction affect us in a variety of ways.
The following experts and residents will field questions during the forum:
Keynote: Carl Hart, PhD Columbia University and Drug Policy Alliance
Kassandra Frederique, MSW Drug Policy Alliance
Judith Branche, MD, CornerStone Family Health
Jeff Kaufmann, Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP)
Frank Barone, Hudson Valley Community Services
Lauren Mandel, RN Newburgh resident and nurse
Sgt. Julio Fernandez, Adelphi University School of Social Work
Those interested may register online at: https://vocal.ourpowerbase.net/civicrm/event/register?cid=0&reset=1&id=1598
or share and follow the Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1854211644870945/
Calendar Information:
What: Town Hall on Opioid Overdose
Where: Newburgh Armory Unity Center, Larkin Center, 321 S. William St., Newburgh NY 12550
When: Saturday, January 20, 2018, 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Who: Concerned residents of New York’s 104th District and those affected by and concerned about opioid overdoses
More information: Contact Jawanza Williams, jawanza@vocal-ny.org
New York State is in crisis. Opioid overdose now takes the lives of more New Yorkers than homicides, traffic accidents and suicides combined. New York State Assemblyman Frank Skartados invites Hudson Valley residents to become a part of the solution and to join together to discuss a compassionate community response to opioid overdose deaths in New York’s 104th District. On Saturday, January 20th from 2-5 p.m. New York State Assemblyman Frank K. Skartados will be holding a town hall and forum panel on opioid overdose at the Newburgh Armory Unity Center 321 S William St, Newburgh, NY 12550.
AM Skartados has partnered with Hudson Valley Community Services (HVCS) and other agencies, including Adelphi University, Cornerstone Family Health, Drug Policy Alliance, Hudson Valley Community Services, Team Newburgh United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region, and VOCAL-NY, to join people impacted by opioid use with experts in the fields of science, public health, criminal justice, and drug policy. HVCS’ Frank Barone, a member of our Syringe Exchange Program staff, will take part in a panel discussion.
This event will begin a compassionate and scientifically-informed discussion about drug use, overdose and New Yorkers’ best prospects for saving lives and living well. Information about local services available to people who use drugs and people in recovery will also be provided. Overdose and addiction affect us in a variety of ways.
The following experts and residents will field questions during the forum:
Keynote: Carl Hart, PhD Columbia University and Drug Policy Alliance
Kassandra Frederique, MSW Drug Policy Alliance
Judith Branche, MD, CornerStone Family Health
Jeff Kaufmann, Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP)
Frank Barone, Hudson Valley Community Services
Lauren Mandel, RN Newburgh resident and nurse
Sgt. Julio Fernandez, Adelphi University School of Social Work
Those interested may register online at: https://vocal.ourpowerbase.net/civicrm/event/register?cid=0&reset=1&id=1598
or share and follow the Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1854211644870945/
Calendar Information:
What: Town Hall on Opioid Overdose
Where: Newburgh Armory Unity Center, Larkin Center, 321 S. William St., Newburgh NY 12550
When: Saturday, January 20, 2018, 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Who: Concerned residents of New York’s 104th District and those affected by and concerned about opioid overdoses
More information: Contact Jawanza Williams, jawanza@vocal-ny.org
For individuals with prescription coverage through their health insurance plans, this program will cover the cost of co-payments for naloxone up to $40 so there are no or lower out-of-pocket expenses when accessing naloxone at participating pharmacies. All Medicaid Managed Care Plans cover at least one formulation of naloxone, and the vast majority of private insurance plans also cover naloxone.
There are 2,000 pharmacies throughout the State who dispense naloxone with a physician standing order. Individuals getting naloxone at these pharmacies do not need a prescription. There is no individual enrollment requirement to use N-CAP. Maximizing pharmacy distribution increases access to naloxone.
For a directory of pharmacies with standing orders, please access the link below:
https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/aids/general/opioid_overdose_prevention/directories.htm
This directory is updated monthly.
Individuals who cannot access naloxone from pharmacies will continue to access naloxone through registered programs including individuals using naloxone in the line of duty and people who are uninsured.
Additional information regarding N-CAP can be found at: www.health.ny.gov/overdose.