Finney County Opioid Task Force met on April 9, 2021.
Operation Prevention and Not Prescribed Drug Prevention Programs will take place at Kenneth Henderson Middle School in April. 7th Grade students will participate in Not Prescribed. 8th Grade students will participate in Operation Prevention.
St. Catherine Hospital and Finney County EMS reported overdose numbers of January, February and March of 2021.
EMS- January 6 calls, February, 2 calls, March 13 calls.
ER- January- Alcohol (16), Meth (7), Opioid (1), Marijuana (3), Polysub (2), Prescription (1), Over the Counter (2).
February- Alcohol (14), Meth (4), Opioid (7), Marijuana (7), Polysub (4), Prescription (0), Over the Counter (1).
March- Alcohol (25), Meth ( 8 ), Opioid (5), Marijuana (7), Polysub (4), Prescription (0), Over the Counter (3).
Discussion was held on Narcan availability in Finney County and how families can acquire Narcan if they have a loved one suffering from addiction.
The Opioid Task Force will be creating a series of short videos to get messaging out to community topics include, “what are opioids”, “what are signs and symptoms of opioids?”, “dangers of fentanyl’. We will also look for a former user willing to share their story of recovery.
There was nothing new to report on Drug Court. There was no Treatment and Recovery Report. Their subcommittee will meet on The Treatment subcommittee will meet 4/13.
Task force will expand data collection to look at reported and suspected overdose deaths and neonatal abstinence syndrome numbers.
National Drug Take Back Day is April 25- Promotions from member organizations will include the theme “Every day is Drug Take Back Day in Finney County” and promote disposal boxes at St. Catherine Emergency Room, Siena Pharmacy and Finney County Law Enforcement Center.
Finney County Task Force Members include LiveWell Finney County, St. Catherine Hospital, Genesis Family Health, Compass Behavioral Health, Community Corrections, USD 457 Garden City Public Schools, Finney County EMS, Finney County Sheriff and Garden City Police Department.
Finney County Opioid Task Force Priorities include: Law Enforcement, Prevention Education, Provider Education, Data Collection, Treatment and Recovery, and Community Communication.
