GOSHEN – A sixth person has died of an apparent heroin overdose in Orange County in a six-day period.
The most recent fatality was a 29-year-old Greenwood Lake man, who was found in a vehicle early Thursday, Warwick Police said. Five other people died from heroin overdoses last weekend.
The county has a three-pronged approach to the drug epidemic – enforcement, treatment and education.
County Executive Steven Neuhaus said the deaths are tragedies that could be avoided.
“Our big message we have out there – if you know a loved one, we have the resources in Orange County to get them help,” Neuhaus said. “They don’t necessarily have to ask themselves, the people that are using drugs, but we know that somebody knows they are using drugs – a loved one or a friend – and that is who we are trying to get the message out to now because it is taking lives.”
The county is offering resources available for anyone addicted to opioids:
Orange County Department of Mental Health – 845-291-2600
Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Council of Orange County – 845-294-9000
Mental Health Association of Orange County – 1-800-832-1200 (24/7)
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-TALK
