Unfortunately I really don’t have anything to point out this week. We have started to see an increase in prescription and Spice ODs though, but with the holidays coming the prescription ODs aren’t too surprising and relatively typical.
While Spice is illegal in New Hampshire, I do not know where it’s being sold. I hear a lot comes from Massachusetts.
As far as holidays and prescription ODs, it is tied to depression. Holidays aren’t joyful to a lot of people and due to the shortening days and joy most of us experience, it becomes too much for some to handle. It’s unfortunate, but not uncommon or new for us in the Fire/EMS/PD circles.
Last week Nashua became the second city in New Hampshire to launch a Safe Station program.
According to Nashua Mayor Donchess, who spoke during the official Nov. 17 launch: “Our partners in this effort, which will begin today, include Nashua Fire Rescue, Harbor Homes, Keystone Hall, AMR, Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, St. Joseph Hospital, the Nashua Public Health Department, the Mayor’s Opioid Task Force, and the Nashua Police Department. I am grateful to all of them.”
You can learn more about that initiative here.
Below are Safe Station updates for Manchester as of Nov. 18:
Total Suspected Overdoses/Calls for Service in 2016: 693
Total Naloxone Administered in 2016: 1778.7 mg
Patients treated with Naloxone: 504
Average Naloxone Given for Revival: 3.55 mg/pt
Total suspected fatalities related to Opioids: 85 (1:8 is fatal)
Monthly Breakdown:
MONTH ODs FATAL % FROM MHT (2015 OD/FATAL)
January 61 6 82% 55/6
February 62 14* 90% 33/5
March 77 11 83% 63/11
April 77 11 87% 64/8
May 56 8 82% 46/7
June 74 4 68% 67/10
July 81 10 79% 69/5
August 48 8 71% 69/6
September 63 5 75% 102/10
October 69 4 80% 55/8
November 25 4 – 58/5
*Indicates most ever ODs
- Found in Hotels, Public Buildings, Restaurants: 102
- Found in Parked Vehicles: 45
- Found while operating vehicles: 19
- Hardest hit areas are: West Side (E6 district), Somerville St. (E7 district), Pine St. (HQ district)
- Youngest Suspected OD Fatality: 22
- Oldest Suspected OD Fatality: 57
- “Repeat Customers/Addresses”:
- Repeat Individual Patients in 24 hours: 8
- Repeat Individual Patients in 7 days: 13
- Repeat Individual Patients in 30 days: 14
- Repeat Individual Patients since 1/1/16:30
- Patients Refusing Care after RevivalA: 15
- Times Prescription Narcan found at scene: 17
- Times Narcan administered PTA: 18
- Times on Manchester School District Prop.: 2
- Age Range (4/16-current): 15-20 = 14; 21-25 = 70; 26-30 = 125; 31-35 = 85; 36-40 = 64; 41-45 = 18; 46-50 = 46; 51+ = 43
Announced on May 4, 2016, the Manchester Fire Department began providing a service to those suffering from Substance Misuse Disorder named “Safe Station.” The purpose of this program is to provide a starting point to aid in the treatment and recovery from Opiate and Drug Addiction. Stats to date:
- Number of requests at MFD for Safe Station: 776
- Number of participants transported to Hospitals: 61
- Number of participants taken to HOPE for NH: 347
- Number of participants taken to Serenity Place: 366
- Average Length of Time AMR/MFD Company “Not Available”: 12 minutes
- Number of UNIQUE participants: 612
- Number of REPEAT entries: 164
- Age Range of Participants: 18-70
- Participant Hometown Breakdown (BY UNIQUE PATIENT):
- Referring MFD Station Breakdown:
- CENTRAL 641
- STATION 6 27
- STATION 5 22
- STATION 10 21
- STATION 2 21
- STATION 7 15
- STATION 3 12
- STATION 9 8
- STATION 4 6
- STATION 8 4
- Number of participants seen for ODs prior to seeking SS Help: 143
Christopher Hickey is Director of Emergency Services for the City of Manchester.
