November 7, 2017
Keene Fire Department Opiate Responses 2017
In an effort to inform the public the Keene Fire Department continues to post the number of suspected opiate overdose responses and the number of times we administer Narcan on a monthly basis.
October 2017: Responded to 12 Incidents (12 patients) and administered Narcan a total of 28 times to those patients.
September 2017: Responded to 12 Incidents (12 patients) and administered Narcan a total of 32 times to those patients.
August 2017: Responded to 4 incidents (4 patients) and administered Narcan a total of 7 times to those patients.
July 2017: Responded to 5 incidents (5 patients) and administered Narcan a total of 6 times to those patients.
June 2017: Responded to 8 incidents (8 patients) and administered Narcan a total of 12 times to those patients.
May 2017: Responded to 8 incidents (8 patients) and administered Narcan a total of 12 times to those patients.
April 2017: Responded to 4 incidents (4 patients) and administered Narcan a total of 6 times to those patients.
March 2017: Responded to 2 incidents (2 patients) and administered Narcan a total of 3 times to those patients.
February 2017: Responded to 3 incidents (3 patients) and administered Narcan a total of 5 times to those patients.
January 2017: Responded to 8 incidents (8 patients) and administered Narcan a total of 18 times to those patients.
Since January 1, 2017 Keene Police reports (5) five deaths in Keene as a result of the opiate problem.
Note: The calls above do not reflect all opiate or other substance overdose calls that the department has responded to. These calls only reflect the calls where Narcan was administered.
The CHARRI (Cheshire County Addiction Assistance Recovery Initiative) program continues to work with all local and County Fire, EMS and Police Departments to provide access 24 hours a day/7 days a week to a recovery coach. This is a component of the Coordinated Access Point Program (CAPP), a pilot program created to address the current opioid epidemic. The program started to provide services May 1, 2016.
From May 1st. 2016 through October 31, 2017 the program has assisted 534 clients with substance use disorders. Currently 250 of those clients have received some form of treatment with (1) one on a waiting list per the Program Coordinator at Southwestern Community Services. (The last 18 months the program has on averaged 29 people per month contacting the program for information and 14 people per month have received treatment).
For those needing assistance with any substance use disorder they can call the CHARRI Hotline at 1-844-604-7878. When responders have been dispatched to calls where this program can help the patients, the responders activate the program and a Recovery Coach is sent to meet the patient at the hospital.
The organizers of the program include Southwestern Community Services, Inc. , Keene Police Department, Keene Fire Department, Cheshire County Sheriff’s Office, Cheshire Medical Center, NH State Police Troop C and PAARI.
For Further Information Contact:
Mark Howard- Fire Chief