Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Overdose Response topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Family & Children’s Counseling Services warns of new substance tied to fatal overdoses; response teams stretched
Summary
Emily Georgia reported recent fatal overdoses involving a new substance being misidentified as heroin and causing atypical overdose presentations. SOS Team capacity is strained, with the local team expected to drop to two members, officials said.
At the March 5 subcommittee meeting, Emily Georgia of Family & Children’s Counseling Services reported recent fatal overdoses involving a substance that providers say is being misidentified as heroin and is producing atypical, and sometimes fatal, clinical presentations.
Georgia told the committee those events prompted concern about the current toxic drug supply and called for continued outreach and response coordination. Amanda Howlett, representing the SOS Team of CCOCC, said the team is responding to an increased number of overdose events and that staffing will soon be reduced to two members, which may constrain response capacity.
Subcommittee members noted the need for expanded outreach, education and support in schools and community settings; the minutes list a recent Trauma Response Team callout to Grace Space and discussion of an event at Homer School as part of that broader concern. The minutes do not include toxicology confirmation of the substance or specific recommendations for additional resources.
