Overdose severity increased last weekend

The severity of overdoses across Burke County spiked last weekend, and officials believe it’s in connection to a contaminated drug supply.

In the past three weeks since the beginning of the year, emergency responders have already managed 15 overdoses, Public Information Officer Chris White said.

That’s nearly one every day, an average of five a week.

“It wasn’t so much that there were more overdoses — the same number of calls for overdoses came in,” White said. “The impacts of those overdoses were much worse than they normally are, which leads us to believe there’s a tainted drug supply.”

White reiterated the availability of free naloxone through multiple avenues. Naloxone is an overdose reversal medication, often inserted through the nasal cavity as a spray to restore normal breathing.

Residents can contact the Burke County Community Navigator at 828-842-1532 to obtain free naloxone. They can also visit the Community Health Vending Machine at Catawba Valley Healthcare, 205 Morgan St. SE, Valdese.

The vending machine provides privacy and only requires the input of a ZIP code.

WINTER WEATHER RESPONSE

Although the Post Overdose Response Team (PORT) will be dispatched during the inclement weather, the response time may be delayed by road conditions. The county encouraged people who use opioids to avoid drug use altogether but specifically requested honesty if an emergency call does occur.

“For us, in emergency services, it is not about getting people in trouble,” White said. “It’s about helping them get through their addiction — to come out of that and become great stewards of the population and get back into the workforce. That’s the ultimate goal, where they’re self-sustaining.”

Since the implementation of PORT, White said his team has seen a decrease in call volume on emergency 911 trucks. Although the trucks still respond, they are able to leave the scene quickly to address other emergency situations when the PORT team is there to stabilize overdose victims.

The PORT team not only assists during the emergency but also follows up with them in the days after to connect them with substance abuse assistance.

White explained that law enforcement does have to accompany the emergency responders to overdose scenes, but they are not there to punish people. They secure the scene and provide protection to the responders.

“It’s all about safety, doing things the safest way possible,” White said. “There’s an air of risk in emergency services at any call you go on. We’re not asking those questions, and the sheriff’s office isn’t coming to penalize.”

FURTHER RESOURCES

The county also offers peer support services for residents affected by substance use. People seeking peer support can contact the Peer Support Line at 828-842-1531. Peer Support Specialists are often in recovery as well, providing connection, support, and discussion with people ready to start the process.