According to the Chautauqua County Department of Mental Hygiene, a total of 1201 people sought treatment in the county for various addictions in 2015. That number includes residents seeking treatment for alcoholism – which comprised the largest number – along with marijuana, heroin, methamphetamine and other drugs and narcotics.

The latest statistics are based on data reported by all New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse licensed providers in Chautauqua County. These include the County outpatient clinics, WCA inpatient, WCA outpatient clinics and the TLC outpatient clinic in Cassadaga.

CLIENTS SERVED IN CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY

The largest increase in treatment was for heroin addiction, which saw 172 resident seeking help in 2015. That was an increase of 36 people, or a 28.6 percent jump compared to the previous year and a 70 percent increase from just two years ago.

Still, those who work in local outreach and support groups say the 172 people listed as receiving treatment is a small portion compared to the residents who are using the drug and also seeking help. Rick Huber from the Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County, based at the Gateway Center in Jamestown, explains.

“We only have four doctors in our county that prescribe suboxone, which is a medication that’s used to help people as they’re going through recovery to get off heroin. Each of those doctors is only allowed to treat 100, so that would be 400 total, and they have a huge waiting list for others who are seeking suboxone,” Huber recently told WRFA. “So the number provided for heroin treatment is low, based on the number who are receiving suboxone treatment alone.”

Huber’s concern is that the numbers being reported by the county to the state may not paint the entire picture of just how bad heroin the problem has become, nor does it accurately portray the number of addicts who are actually seeking treatment.

METH TREATMENT ON THE RISE

Another drug that has seen a sharp increase in usage is methamphetamine, and that is reflected in the number of people seeking treatment for their addiction. In 2015, 29 people sought help for meth addiction – four times as many as those who sought help in 2014. And in 2013, just 2 people in Chautauqua County sought treatment for meth addiction.

The largest number for treatment was for alcohol dependency, with 493 people being treated. That’s more than 40 percent of all treatment cases. But that number was down from the 524 who sought treatment in that category just one year earlier in 2014 (46 percent of all cases).

Residents seeking treatment for marijuana addiction also saw a decrease. In 2013, 262 residents sought treatment, but that number saw a slight drop during the past two years and was down to 242 in 2015.

It should be noted the numbers do not include those who are seeking assistance from support services, which are provided by several other agencies in the area, including the Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County. Support services often provide peer-to-peer help when it comes to an addict trying to overcome his or her addiction, but they are not permitted to provide clinical diagnosis or treatment.

Any resident seeking treatment or help with chemical dependency can call the county’s 24-hour  Crisis Hotline at
1-800-724-0461 or contact the office in either Jamestown or Dunkirk.

Packets of potentially lethal heroin – similar to the ones shown hear labelled as ‘Theraflu’ – have reportedly made their way into Chautauqua County. The rise in opiate drug use in the county has lead county officials to schedule a Community Forum on drug abuse on March 12 in Mayville. (Image from CNN)

MAYVILLE – Chautauqua County Executive Vince Horrigan is encouraging the entire community to attend a Community Forum on drug abuse in Chautauqua County, set to take place next week in Mayville. In addition, he’s announcing two new related forums that will take place in Jamestown and Dunkirk.

The Community Drug Forum will be held on Wednesday, March 12 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Chautauqua Suites in Mayville.

In addition, two family forums will take place in both Jamestown and Dunkirk. The first Family Forum will be held on March 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. in Room 116 at the Jamestown Community College North County Center, (10807 Bennett Rd.) in Dunkirk. The second Family Forum will be held on March 12 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Carnahan Theater at Jamestown Community College (525 Falconer St.) in Jamestown.

The Family Forums will be led by parent representatives from the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse (OASAS) and will offer families of those struggling with addition the opportunity to share their stories, identify system barriers, and suggest action steps going forward.

Horrigan has been working with Chautauqua County Department of Mental Hygiene Commissioner Patricia Brinkman on the event, which has been scheduled due to the rise in drug use throughout communities in Chautauqua County.

“We will have an open conversation with this community on everything from the enforcement side to the treatment side to the education side,” Horrigan explained. “How are we doing to care for those, as well as how do we enforce the laws and how do we reduce and turn around the trend of this abuse in our county that is affecting so many people and taking lives.”

For the March 12 community forum in Mayville, the morning presentations will include Dr. David Withers; Michele Spahn of the DEA; William Matthews of Harm Reduction Coalition; and a parent and advocate, Avi Israel who lost his son as a result of addiction.  Afternoon presentations will include a panel discussion and question and answer session.

Public input and public engagement, including questions and answers will also be encouraged and facilitated throughout the day.

The event is free and a box lunch made available by the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation will be provided for all attendees. To ensure there is an accurate count for lunch, residents should register for the event by March 5.

For more information about the forums and to register for the Community Forum contact Marilyn Wright at (716) 753-4507.