Log in Subscribe

Opioid deaths down

County still highest in the State

By Joseph Abraham
Posted 8/16/22

SULLIVAN COUNTY –– County officials are currently parsing through data that was recently released by the NYS Department of Health. On Thursday, Health and Human Services Commissioner John …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Opioid deaths down

County still highest in the State

Posted

SULLIVAN COUNTY –– County officials are currently parsing through data that was recently released by the NYS Department of Health. On Thursday, Health and Human Services Commissioner John Liddle told legislators that Sullivan County saw a decline in the number of opioid deaths from 2020 to 2021.

“The death rate per 100,000 was astronomical in 2020 at the height of the pandemic,” said Liddle. “It was over 65 per 100,000, which put us much higher than any other County in the State.”

Liddle said the County has come off that peak, with the number having dropped to 48.1 per 100,000. The figure, while getting closer to other counties, is still the highest death rate due to opioids in the State.

However, Liddle explained that the drop is a “significant reduction.”

“We were one of 31 counties who improved from 2020 to 2021,” said Liddle. “So that improvement was certainly not a given as we progressed through the pandemic.

“I think it’s a little early to say what actions we are taking that had that positive effect,” continued Liddle, “but it was at least encouraging to see that number.”

Infectious diseases

Monkeypox was also addressed by Liddle during Thursday’s Health and Human Services Committee meeting. He said there are a total of two cases of Monkeypox in the County. 

“Both of those cases were obtained outside of the County,” said Liddle, “so we haven’t seen any kind of spread inside the County as of yet.”

The County is also taking measures in regard to Polio (see separate story in today’s news section).

On the COVID-19 front, the County has some upcoming Pediatric COVID clinics scheduled for children under five. 

On August 19, they’ll be at the Monticello Firehouse from 3-7 p.m. (possibly 8 p.m. if there is high demand), and at Public Health Services in Liberty on August 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Both of those clinics are the first round of three in the vaccine series for children under five, with second and third dose clinics scheduled for September and November respectively.

For more info, contact Sullivan County Public Health Services at 845-292-5910.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here