Ulster County gathers community input on dealing with opioid use disorder

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Ulster Opioid Conference

KINGSTON – The Ulster County Department of Mental Health Tuesday gathered community feedback for how to effectively help those with Opioid Use Disorder, (OUD). So far in 2023, there have been 195 overdoses and 26 fatalities in Ulster County. 

And to help counties cope with these issues, money is coming for nearly two decades from opioid manufacturers to fund future prevention programs following successful lawsuits, including one won by New York State.

“There are a good amount of funds coming our way,” said Ulster County Commissioner of Mental Health Tara McDonald.  “What we are hoping for are innovative programs services, community-based intervention that can sustained throughout time. Hopefully at the end those 18 years, we’ll be using money for playgrounds because we’ll find our way out of this horrible situation.”

Staff members, at the assembled public forum, which was also presented for remote attendance, talked about work groups, which get together bi-weekly, working on prevention strategies and harm reduction, and how it’s hard to promote harm reduction when some people are having repeated overdoses.

Comments from the public included how intrepid people are at maintaining their addictions and what resources are available for parents coping with an adult child with OUD and what spiritual and natural remedies are available.




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