Erie County politicians support new bills to combat opioid epidemic

BUFFALO – The opioid crisis continues to claim lives in Erie County.

Last year, more than 400 people died of fatal overdoses in Erie County. As of June, there were at least 200 confirmed and suspected fatal overdose cases in the county.

Now the community is calling for new approaches to combat the opioid epidemic.

On Wednesday, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney joined Erie County law enforcement officials in expressing their support for three new bills they believe could make a difference.

• “Death by dealer” – selling drugs to someone who dies of an overdose is considered manslaughter
• Classification of the powerful and deadly sedative xylazine as a controlled substance in New York
• Families of fatal overdose victims are eligible for crime victim assistance funds

Erie County Sheriff John Garcia said his detectives know firsthand how dealers know they are dealing with death.
They are wearing masks and gloves, he said Wednesday at a news conference with Erie County Assistant District Attorney Michael Keane.

“So the drug dealer knew full well that the substance he was mixing into each bag to sell to the drug addicts, the customers, was dangerous,” Garcia said.

I met with Chris Harzynski, executive director of Creative Restorations, an organization that works with people with substance use disorders. He said raising awareness is crucial.

“The streets need to be flooded, like a drug dealer would flood the streets with drugs, right? You need to flood them with overdose prevention resources and recovery information,” Harzynski said.

For more information about the resources available through Creative Restorations, click here.

The Erie County Health Department has also provided the following information on available resources:

• Carry Narcan with you and know how and when to use it. Text (716) 225-5473 to have Narcan and fentanyl test strips mailed to you free of charge.
• Never take Narcan alone. Take Narcan with you and a friend who doesn’t use drugs, or contact a service like Never Use Alone (neverusealone.com).
• Test your drugs for fentanyl, even if you think it’s cocaine or another non-opioid substance. Free test strips are available from the Erie County Health Department. Call (716) 858-7695.
• Seek support. ECDOH has peer navigators and a family coordinator; call (716) 858-7695. The Buffalo & Erie County Addictions Hotline is available 24 hours a day and provides referrals to individuals and their families. Call (716) 831-7007.
• Find treatment. A local hospital emergency department can connect patients to medication-assisted treatment immediately. Ask about the MATTERS network.