MAYVILLE, N.Y. – The Chautauqua County Department of Mental Hygiene continues to offer medication-assisted treatment at its two behavioral health clinics to help those struggling with opioid dependency.

Chautauqua County Behavioral Health Clinics’ mission is to provide a patient centered approach to those in the community who are seeking counseling and other treatments for substance use disorders. This patient-centered approach includes both counseling and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for the treatment of opioid dependency.

MAT consists of two primary treatment options available at the clinics. The first is Suboxone (buprenorphine), which is approved by the FDA for medication-assisted treatment of opioid and heroin use disorders.

Vivitrol (naltrexone) is another option to treat heroin and opioid use disorder, in addition to alcohol use disorder. Vivitrol is used to block the opioid receptor and help with cravings for alcohol and opioids.

Dr. Scott Cunningham has been working at the Chautauqua County Behavioral Health Clinics in both Jamestown and Dunkirk since July of 2017 and continues to supervise medication-assisted treatment at each of the behavioral health clinics. Dr. Cunningham has been working in the field of addiction medicine for the last 10 years. Prior to specialization in addiction medicine, he worked in both family practice and urgent care settings over his 20 years of experience as a physician.

“Growing up, I often spent summers with my family on vacation in Chautauqua County,” said Dr. Cunningham. “I feel very thankful to be a part of the wonderful team at Chautauqua County Behavioral Health Clinics.”

Those in the community who would like information on medication-assisted treatment can call either of the Chautauqua County Behavioral Health Clinics to make an appointment for an assessment or in an emergency, stop in for open access services.

The clinics are open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Jamestown Clinic can be reached at (716) 661-8330 and the Dunkirk Clinic can be reached at (716) 363-3550.

Please contact the clinics for further information about services available to the community and scheduling an appointment.

The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s office says 28 year-old James Chase of Niobe was spotted driving in Celoron by sheriff deputies Wednesday morning. The deputies recognized Chase, who was known to have active probation warrant from Pennsylvania as well as multiple misdemeanor warrants in Chautauqua County.

He was pulled over and place into custody. During the stop, police reportedly found Chase to be in possession of a quantity of methamphetamine, Suboxone, Marijuana, and various drug paraphernalia.

In addition to being brought in on warrants, he was also charged with 2 counts of criminal possession of controlled substance 7th degree, unlawful possession of marijuana, aggravated unlicensed operator 3rd degree, and other traffic violations.

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.

Jose Diaz-Solis

JAMESTOWN – A joint investigation into the sale and trafficking of heroin in the Jamestown area from two separate locations has led to the arrest of a city man, who was also arrested on drug-related charges in two other separate investigations during the past year.

According to Jamestown police, 52 year-old Jose Diaz-Solis was arrested Wednesday night, April 1, following an investigation by the Jamestown Metro-Drug Task Force, the State Police C-NET unit, and the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force.

It was the third time Diaz-Solis was arrested on drug charges in less than a year. He was also charged in September 2014 and in June 2014.

Police say the arrest followed the search of two residences in Jamestown – one at 440 Buffalo St. and the other at 241 Crescent St. Police say the two residences were targeted after authorities learned heroin was allegedly being sold out from both locations.

While at the residence on Buffalo St., police took Diaz-Solos into custody and charged him with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance. Officers say a quantity of suboxone was also found inside the residence.

Police say the investigation is ongoing and more arrests are expected. Anyone with information into the sale and trafficking of illegal narcotics should call the JPD’s anonymous tip line at 483-Tips (8477).