Horizon Health sees new trends amid opioid epidemic

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- Local police are concerned about a deadly batch of drugs circulating in the Buffalo area. At least eight people have died over the past week, with the latest victim in Grand Island.

In this overdose case, the person who died was a 58-year-old man. Local health officials said they're seeing more middle-aged people and more seniors overdosing, not just younger people. This overdose death happened Friday night on East River Road.

This comes after seven people died of suspected drug overdoses in less than five hours in Buffalo, Tonawanda and Lackawanna a week ago. Police and health officials are very concerned about a deadly batch of crack and cocaine that's being used locally.

Experts at Horizon Health Services said they're seeing more overdoses with cocaine and fentanyl that's pressed into pills and an increase in people making appointments to get help.

"We've seen a number of people calling and we can work with whatever the patient's goals are at that time, so we get calls for people who just want medication to help with their withdrawal and cravings to, 'I just want counseling,'" said Katie Burbee, the director of clinical program development for Horizon Health Services.

Horizon Health has walk-in appointments and can help people with medication services, but, with the summer here, Horizon Health said they're seeing an increase in people not showing up for appointments. They also said health care coverage remains an obstacle for many families.

"People are engaging in more outdoor activities and music festivals and concerts and really wanting to make sure that people know what they're using and to really make sure they have testing strips to be able to test the substances that they're using," Burbee said.

Last year, there was a record of 435 overdose deaths in Erie County. Some local officials believe Erie County will surpass that number this year.

"The potency continues to increase, the risk continues to increase with what's being put in the different substances so just to continue the conversation as well and reduce the stigma to make sure people know what's out there," Burbee said.

In Albany and Syracuse, the New York State Department of Health issued an alert after a synthetic sedative was found in drugs in Central New York and the Capital Region.

Erie County offers free Narcan, fentanyl and xylazine test strips. Local leaders plead with users to test their supply and to make sure they have Narcan available. If you or a loved one needs help, there are resources available.