Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan has announced that his administration is committed to reducing the number of opioid fatalities in the county by 50% within two years. He said the county has received a CHASE [County Hub And Spoke Empowerment] grant of $2.5 million through Columbia University aimed at reducing the growing number of deaths and treating those struggling with addiction.

In a press release Ryan’s office announced that, “these funds will be used over a three year period and will help deliver a comprehensive intervention package that will prevent the use of opioids, treat addiction and promote recovery.”

In addition, the New York State Department of Health will provide the county with $216,000 every year for the next next three years that will connect residents with needed treatment services. This brings the total for this effort in the next three years to $3,148,000.

Ryan said it is important to acknowledge that Ulster County is in a public health crisis.

County health records show that in 2018 there were 56 opioid fatalities across the county, but it appears that total is trending downward this year. Official totals for 2019 will be compiled early next year.

Ryan said cutting the total number of deaths in half is an “aggressive” goal, “but it is something we can do and is clearly something that we must do; it also has to be a first step to ultimately getting to a place of completely eradicating this epidemic [in the county].”

Ryan recently appointed Vincent Martello to be the first Director of Opioid Prevention Strategy and will implement an action plan created by the Opioid Prevention Task Force. Ryan pointed out that the plan was compiled by more than 50 organizations and targets three key areas; reducing supply and demand, improving treatment and providing needed recovery services.

Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa said he is proud to be working with the County Executive and the District Attorney on this issue.

“People want action from their government, they want action from law enforcement, they want us to change the way we look at things. When an individual is afflicted with an addiction, so is somebody’s father, mother, son, uncle or other family member and we have to look at it that way.”

Sheriff Figueroa said the mindset on how society deals with this problem is changing, “because it has to change.” He said there are new programs and methods being made available to inmates at the County Jail to help those who are addicted.

“We’re going to tackle this together,” he promised.