Out of frustration, a plan has come to light.
Orleans County Sheriff Randy Bower says he became angry and frustrated when attempting to find a help for someone who was struggling with addiction and no beds were available anywhere in the area.
Out of his anger and frustration, a plan is now being put into place in Orleans County for those who have overdosed or are looking for help in becoming clean.
The opioid overdose death epidemic has arrived in Orleans County and there have been about 10 confirmed deaths with 12-15 pending after a cause of death has been confirmed.
Bower feels that in a County of 40,000 people those numbers are too high and climbing.
On Thursday evening, the faith based community gathered at a meeting with the Sheriff’s Office at the Hoag Library in Albion to answer his call in looking for volunteers to be trained Recovery Coaches.
About 30 Orleans County clergy members attended the meeting along with law enforcement, Medina Hospital, GCASA, landlords, and Orleans County Job Development.
“The crimes committed in Orleans County stem from the opioid problem,” says Bower.
“They are breaking into cars for $2-$3 for their next hit, they are breaking into homes, so by us helping them we also help the community.”
Bower’s plan starts with a 24/7 Urgent Access Center to be set up by the NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse. This center would assess and make recommendation on the level of care needed.
The Medina Hospital would serve as a Crisis Detox Center.
The hospital is currently working with the NYS to get the permits to operate such a center.
“We are hoping that when patients come into the Emergency Department they have a place to go instead of being referred to an outpatient clinic,” says Wendy Jacobson, CEO of Orleans Community Health.
GCASA would then serve as a Rehabilitation Center after the detox process.
The last steps in the plan call on landlords to provide help in offering drug free homes for patients and then for Orleans County Job Development to help with job training and placement.
“I reached out to the director of OASAS(NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse) and they are very receptive,” says Bower.
“So this will be one of the first in the State.”
“I believe with the clergy, the hospital, GCASA, landlords and Job Development we can do this. We want to be able to bring these people to a center and clean them up and walk them through what is needed for them to be a productive member of society”
The Orleans County clergy will meet up with the Sheriff’s Office in about a month with some volunteers and Medina Memorial says they hope to have the detox center set up in about 4 months.
In the meantime, The Sheriff’s Office has set up Sheriff’s Care(community, addiction, rehabilitation and education) phone number with the help of the Care and Crisis Hotline.
The number to call is 585-344-4400