The fight against the opioid epidemic is a work in progress. Overdose deaths involving opioids increased 5.7% in New York from 2021 to 2022, according to the state Department of Health, and the number of emergency room visits due to an overdose, excluding heroin, increased by 9.2%. 

One upstate New York county is trying a new tool to reverse overdoses and the overall trends. It's called “Opvee,” and it was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last May.

It's said to be more effective in overdoses related to fentanyl. Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar believes it could save lives.

"It could be the next life-saving tool used across our state, but for now, it’s only being used in Broome County," Akshar explained.

Opvee is billed as a more effective and longer-lasting overdose prevention tool, formulated to tackle synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.

Naloxone is now the only approved antagonist used by New York health departments and emergency personnel.

"It sends a very clear message that we have to do better, that we have to have more tools at our disposal," Akshar said.

In many cases, a single dose of naloxone isn’t enough to revive someone who’s used drugs laced with fentanyl. More than 90% of the overdose deaths today are now being linked to the drug.

In Broome County, it’s lead to skyrocketing overdose numbers, ranking it fifth in the state.

"My hope, of course, is that Albany will wake up and recognize that there are other opioid antagonists on the market that are saving lives. And we should be we should keep an open mind about using additional tools," said Akshar, who equips all deputies with Opvee, making it the pilot region in the state to use it.

They’ll still carry naloxone, but this will be another tool.

"In working with Sheriff Bouchard and Steve Norris out in Oakland, Michigan, we're seeing firsthand the benefits of on the streets in Oakland, recognizing that they're able to reverse overdoses, restore breathing to the patient within 60 seconds."

In a statement from the state Department of Health, a spokesperson said it was working to develop programs and strategies to treat opioid disorder and prevent overdose deaths, but added, "Nalmefene, the generic for Opvee, has no known history for use in emergency departments or ambulance settings in New York State and there is currently no evidence there is a need, or additional benefit, for this product.”

"My hope, of course, is that Albany will recognize that we are losing this fight," Akshar said. "When you look at the data, when you look at where we were 10 years ago with overdoses, we've seen a 360% increases in overdoses in the last 10 years.”