Woonsocket Public Health Alert: Rhode Island Overdose Action Area Response (ROAAR)

Public Health Alert: Rhode Island Overdose Action Area Response (ROAAR)Woonsocket

The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) and the Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities & Hospitals (BHDDH) issue this ROAAR Alert due to increased non-fatal opioid overdose activity in Woonsocket (Region 2).

From May 21 to May 27, 2023, Woonsocket (Region 2) exceeded its weekly, pre-established opioid overdose threshold.

There were nine reports of individuals receiving care from emergency medical services (EMS) for a suspected drug overdose. The weekly threshold is seven EMS runs for this region.

During the same timeframe, Cranston, Warwick, West Warwick, and Coventry (Region 7) reached its weekly, pre-established threshold with 14 individuals receiving care from emergency medical services for a suspected opioid overdose.

The local drug supply is always changing. Many people who overdosed did not know that their drugs, like cocaine, crack, methamphetamine, or non-prescribed pills, could also be mixed with fentanyl and/or xylazine. If you or someone you know uses drugs, there are ways to be safer and reduce overdose risk: – Don’t use alone and have someone with you when using drugs – Test your drugs using fentanyl test strips preventoverdoseri.org/fentanyl – Keep naloxone (Narcan®) on hand preventoverdoseri.org/get-naloxone – Start with a small dose and go slowly

As a public service, The Coalition Radio Network will republish the Public Health Alert: Rhode Island Overdose Action Area Response (ROAAR)

Comments

Paul: 100% WORTHLESS POS....Rhode Island really knows how to Elect…
U Ottoknow (anonymous): Great article. It would have been even better had you been a…
Pamela Azar: Thank you Pat for sharing this extremely important informati…
Anonymous: Thank you for your reporting Pat! Over that weekend there wa…
Jeannette Houle: I am a home owner in Woonsocket, along with many friends, an…