New drug task force in works
Agencies partnering to curb drug overdoses
Health Commissioner Krista Wasowski is helping organize a new task force which could help curb drug overdoses. File photo
MEDINA – Concern over rising drug overdoses is expected to create a new initiative to combat the heroin epidemic in Medina County early next year.
The Medina County Alcohol Drug Addiction and Mental Health Board and Health Department have announced a partnership to develop a Medina County Opiate Task Force.
Philip Titterington, director of the ADAMH Board and Health Commissioner Krista Wasowski said in a joint statement they will be combining behavioral and physical health disciplines to help combat this epidemic.
“The purpose of the Opiate Task Force is to come together as a county across many disciplines to develop short and long term prevention, intervention, and treatment strategies to address the opiate-heroin epidemic,” Titterington said. “We anticipate sending invitations to more than 100 participants to help guide the creation of a comprehensive and diversified task force to identify and describe services and programs available, and to identify areas of need.”
Statistics kept by the Medina County Drug Task Force indicate there have been more than 180 opiate overdoses in the county so far this year. Those overdoses resulted in 20 deaths.
“Earlier this month it was reported that Ohio leads the nation in opiate deaths,” Titterington said. “Medina County has seen its share of overdose deaths from opiates. In 2009 we had three deaths from opiates, and the numbers have steadily increased despite interventions.”
Titterington said the ADAMH Board has increased resources to its alcohol, drug and mental health agencies like Alternative Paths, Solutions Behavioral Healthcare, and Catholic Charities to increase and strengthen opiate specific services and programs to help combat this epidemic.
“The Health Department has implemented Project DAWN – death avoided with naloxone – to provide Narcan to the community. This project, in conjunction with other prevention and treatment programs provided by other groups, is essential to addressing the opioid problem in Medina County,” said Wasowski.
“There are a lot of good things happening all around this county and there is more that can be done,” Titterington said. “We are eager to come together as one to combat this epidemic. Invitation letters are expected to be sent out in early January to partners to join the Opiate Task Force for our initial meeting. A venue is being secured that can accommodate all who are interested.”
Among those taking a part in the effort with be the Medina County Drug Abuse Commission, which is expected to work closely with the new task force.
“We have been working to tackle the problem of heroin abuse via enforcement, prevention and treatment,” MCDAC Director Brian Nowak told county commissioners recently. “But now, this task force will allow for better collaboration among agencies.”
Data from the Ohio Department of Health indicate that unintentional drug overdoses remain the leading cause of accidental deaths statewide for the ninth year in the row. Of Ohio’s 2,590 overdose deaths in 2015, 21 were in Medina County.
The Medina County Alcohol Drug Addiction and Mental Health Board and Health Department have announced a partnership to develop a Medina County Opiate Task Force.
Philip Titterington, director of the ADAMH Board and Health Commissioner Krista Wasowski said in a joint statement they will be combining behavioral and physical health disciplines to help combat this epidemic.
“The purpose of the Opiate Task Force is to come together as a county across many disciplines to develop short and long term prevention, intervention, and treatment strategies to address the opiate-heroin epidemic,” Titterington said. “We anticipate sending invitations to more than 100 participants to help guide the creation of a comprehensive and diversified task force to identify and describe services and programs available, and to identify areas of need.”
Statistics kept by the Medina County Drug Task Force indicate there have been more than 180 opiate overdoses in the county so far this year. Those overdoses resulted in 20 deaths.
“Earlier this month it was reported that Ohio leads the nation in opiate deaths,” Titterington said. “Medina County has seen its share of overdose deaths from opiates. In 2009 we had three deaths from opiates, and the numbers have steadily increased despite interventions.”
Titterington said the ADAMH Board has increased resources to its alcohol, drug and mental health agencies like Alternative Paths, Solutions Behavioral Healthcare, and Catholic Charities to increase and strengthen opiate specific services and programs to help combat this epidemic.
“The Health Department has implemented Project DAWN – death avoided with naloxone – to provide Narcan to the community. This project, in conjunction with other prevention and treatment programs provided by other groups, is essential to addressing the opioid problem in Medina County,” said Wasowski.
“There are a lot of good things happening all around this county and there is more that can be done,” Titterington said. “We are eager to come together as one to combat this epidemic. Invitation letters are expected to be sent out in early January to partners to join the Opiate Task Force for our initial meeting. A venue is being secured that can accommodate all who are interested.”
Among those taking a part in the effort with be the Medina County Drug Abuse Commission, which is expected to work closely with the new task force.
“We have been working to tackle the problem of heroin abuse via enforcement, prevention and treatment,” MCDAC Director Brian Nowak told county commissioners recently. “But now, this task force will allow for better collaboration among agencies.”
Data from the Ohio Department of Health indicate that unintentional drug overdoses remain the leading cause of accidental deaths statewide for the ninth year in the row. Of Ohio’s 2,590 overdose deaths in 2015, 21 were in Medina County.
