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Sullivan County reports drop in opioid deaths; officials outline crisis-service expansions
Summary
County health officials said state data show the lowest quarterly opioid deaths since 2021 and described plans for a stabilization center, expanded mobile crisis coverage and a crisis intervention coordinator; a county resolution to fund a peer court navigator also cleared committee.
Sullivan County health officials said state data show opioid-related deaths fell to three in the most recent quarter and described a package of service expansions intended to expand emergency response and support for people with substance use disorders.
At the Health and Human Services committee meeting in February, a county official reporting on the division's annual work said the New York State Department of Health quarterly dashboard showed the April quarter recorded "3 deaths in that quarter," the lowest since DOH began publishing the dashboard in 2021. The official said the county also saw declining rates of emergency medical service responses to overdoses, which tracked with local reporting.
The county is planning several service expansions to build on the trend. County staff said they have a "tentative location" for a stabilization center and are awaiting architectural drawings to clarify square footage and costs.
Officials said they will issue a request for proposals for expanded mobile crisis services, with the goal of 24/7 coverage for children, adults and people with substance use disorders. The county also obtained state funds for 2023–24 that will support hiring a crisis intervention team (CIT) coordinator to oversee those services.
County staff said they are assembling a community trauma response team and have a work group meeting planned to draft the response plan. Oxford House representatives are preparing an application for opioid abatement funds (OASIS) to establish a recovery house chapter locally.
In committee action connected to behavioral-health operations, a staff member said a resolution to create a peer court navigator position — to be stationed at the county courthouse and family court — had been submitted and passed in the committee process and will move to the full legislature so the funds can be released to hire the navigator.
Officials also noted ongoing work on a fatality review board, continued efforts of the county drug task force and peer-support initiatives for first responders.
Committee members did not record opposing votes during the committee's roll-call actions on related and other departmental resolutions.
The county emphasized that the DOH data are quarterly and lagged, and that local monthly reporting showed some month-to-month variation: a December uptick was noted but January again showed lower numbers of overdose calls. Officials described the recent 12-month average of overdose-related EMS calls as "a little under 15" per month, down from averages in earlier years.
Officials said the new programs and hires remain subject to the normal contract, procurement, and funding approval processes, and some items — including the stabilization center site details and architecture — remain under development.
Quotes in this article are taken from statements read into the committee record.
