The Steuben County Public Health Department and partners are sharing updated overdose data for May: 32 overdoses were reported along with two fatalities and 12 instances of Narcan administration. An additional overdose was reported for April on May 31, bringing April’s overdose total to 41.
“The total number of overdoses reported for 2023 through May already brings us to a little more than half the number of overdoses that were reported in 2022,” said Public Health Director, Darlene Smith. “There are resources available throughout the county to save lives. I encourage anyone who is using opioids or who knows someone who does to take advantage of free Narcan training and to keep Narcan readily available.”
When reviewing May’s ODMAP data, it was found that some of the overdose records cited substances other than opioids as the drug suspected for causing the overdose. Going forward, Steuben’s update will note when the available records specifically cite opioids as the suspected cause of the overdose or when other or no substances are noted. Steuben Public Health is not able to access the full records reported by agencies other than Steuben County 911 but can view the total number of overdoses, fatalities, and Narcan administrations reported for Steuben County.
In May, seven of Steuben’s overdose records cited opioids as the suspected drug causing the overdose. Twelve overdose records did not note a specific substance or were not able to be accessed for a full review, and the remaining 13 records indicated another substance was suspected to be the cause of the overdose. Other reported substances included prescription drugs, over-the-counter medication, methamphetamine, marijuana, alcohol and others.
