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Fentanyl-Related Deaths Increase In Onondaga County Fentanyl-Related Deaths Increase In Onondaga County

By Lucas Sigaud

The recovery board at Prevention Network in Syracuse.
© 2019 Luc Sigaud

Wil Murtaugh speaking
If there’s fentanyl present in the drug, you cannot use the same amount, you must do a test shot. You have to be very careful because that will kill you.

Luc Sigaud speaking
As Executive Director of ACR Health, Wil Murtaugh spends his days helping people afflicted with issues like HIV, Hepatitis, and addiction. One of his most valuable tools for addiction is Narcan, which helps block the effect of opioids.

Wil Murtaugh speaking
This is what we give out now, is nasal spray. You get two of these in your kit and hopefully that’s enough and at the same time you’re doing this you’re calling 9-1-1.

Luc Sigaud speaking
While ACR has this office in Syracuse a lot of their work for the greater CNY community, like making sure people have safe needles, happens on the go.

Luc Sigaud speaking
At the Syringe Exchange van here at ACR Health in Syracuse, New York, they have these. All these different types of syringes whether for drug use, for diabetics, for whatever need they may have. While the opioid epidemic rages on in Central New York and around the country there are resources to help those afflicted.

Luc Sigaud speaking
At the prevention network down the road, Ashley Dailey works with those working on recovery. A common theme she sees is people getting into opioid misuse through similar ways.

Ashley Dailey speaking
Most people got it legally through an accident and being overprescribed, the issue, so when they switch to heroin because it was cheaper, it became a taboo topic.

Luc Sigaud speaking
Dailey knows it can be tough to love fighting an addiction. She wants those loved ones to know that the person they know and love is still there, even if addiction can fog the lens.

Ashley Dailey speaking
The person they’re interacting with when they’re under the influence is not the same person as they are when they’re not under the influence.

Luc Sigaud speaking
Luc Sigaud, NCC News.

By Luc Sigaud SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News)- As Central New York continues to deal with a severe opioid problem, there are those in the area that have dedicated themselves to fighting addiction.

Wil Murtaugh was ACR Health’s 27th employee when he was hired nearly 30 years ago. Now, as the Executive Director of the 160 employee-strong company, he leads the fight against improper needle use. While that issue is prevalent for diabetics and pivotal in the slowing of the spread of STI’s, he sees it as particularly important with illicit drugs. With ACR Health’s syringe exchange van, he can head to frequent use sites and make sure those that are going to need syringes have access to clean ones and proper usage techniques.

ACR also has test strips for Fentanyl, a powerful opioid that often laces heroin. 70 of the 101 unintentional opioid-related deaths in Onondaga County last year were related in some way to Fentanyl.

In addition to ACR Health, the Prevention Network in Syracuse also helps serve the addiction community. Ashley Dailey works as a family support navigator and focuses on helping to make sure those with addictions have a strong of a support system as possible. She stresses that families must remain patient with those fighting an addiction. Even though their behavior may be irascible at times, this is when they need the support of their strongest bonds.

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