Steven Cobb, pictured, was one of two presenters at Thursday’s county Board of Health meeting. He lead a discussion drug overdoses in Chautauqua County.
P-J photo by Gregory Bacon
MAYVILLE — Drug overdose deaths continue to be a problem in Chautauqua County, and it’s getting worse.
During a meeting Thursday of the county Board of Health, Steve Kilburn with the county Mental Hygiene Department and Steven Cobb with the Mental Health Association gave a presentation regarding drug overdoses.
Kilburn displayed a bar chart that noted there were more than 40 overdoses deaths in 2021, around 35 deaths in 2022, and more than 50 deaths this year. The deaths from this year were only recorded through September. The chart did not give exact numbers.
Kilburn added that there were five overdose deaths in a four-day span from the end of September and the beginning of October that were not included in the bar chart he displayed. They believe there have been eight overdose deaths this month alone.
Some of the toxicology reports have not been returned, but Kilburn said fentanyl is the likely culprit.
“Over half of the deaths this year have occurred within one day of another death,” he said. “When we see the deaths we almost always are looking at fentanyl poisoning. I think often, and maybe nearly always, it’s simply a matter of supply.”
While most of the overdose deaths have occurred in Jamestown, Dunkirk is seeing an increase of deaths as well. Of all the fatals reported in 2021, 6.8% were in Dunkirk. In 2022, 8.6% of the deaths were in Dunkirk. In 2023, 19.2% of the deaths were in Dunkirk.
“There’s a unique jump in deaths happening in the north county this year,” he said.
Kilburn added that the 50-plus overdose deaths this year are the highest on record in Chautauqua County.
But Kilburn added that Chautauqua County is not alone. He said the Centers for Disease Control reported that through May, the U.S. was on track for the highest overdose deaths in the nation.
According to Kilburn, in Erie County, NY, 81% of their overdose deaths involve cocaine. “We don’t see 81% of cocaine, but we do see a jump in the numbers of deaths including cocaine … methamphetamine and cocaine are in about 80% of the deaths,” he said.
He brought up that fact because cocaine is often viewed as a “party” drug.
“It begs question … how many of them had no intention of ingesting an opioid,” he said.
Board of Health member Dr. Elizabeth Kidder said she’s had several patients who had an unintentional overdose, not knowing what they were ingesting, when they were using cocaine or methamphetamine.
Kilburn said locally 78% of the deaths are males. The median age of those who are dying from drug overdoses is 45 years old. Half of all overdose deaths are from people ages 39-45.
In Chautauqua County, about 8% of the population is Hispanic, but Hispanic overdose deaths make up about 20%.
Kilburn said it gets tricky to study the number of overdoses that don’t end in deaths, simply because they don’t know how many actually get reported.
He noted that according to Alstar EMS, about one-third of their opioid calls this year, the patient has had naloxone administered before the EMTs arrived. “In some ways, that some encouraging news,” Kilburn said.
Kilburn noted that Chautauqua County will soon be receiving opioid settlement dollars and they are developing initiatives for creating a public health approach to address addiction issues, working with many partners throughout the county.
Kilburn said there’s been an increase of people who have experienced overdoses that have unique wounds. They believe the wounds are from xylazine, although testing for xylazine is very limited.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, xylazine, a non-opioid veterinary tranquilizer not approved for human use, has been linked to an increasing number of overdose deaths nationwide in the evolving drug addiction and overdose crisis. Studies show people exposed to xylazine often knowingly or unknowingly used it in combination with other drugs, particularly illicit fentanyl.
Cobb said the county has been receiving training to recognize the sores and its connection to xylazine, as well as the best way to offer treatment.
They have put together treatment kits that will be available for distribution. They plan on making them available at the recovery centers in Jamestown and Dunkirk. The kits have test strips for xylaine and fentanyl, as well as instructions for treatment.
The kits will also be distributed to the community in the same way that Narcan is distributed.
Health Board President Dr. Lilian Ney thanked Kilburn and Cobb for the presentation. “What’s apparent is the great work you are doing,” she said.
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