In 2019 there were 32 opioid overdose deaths in Ulster County. In just the first seven months of this year, there have already been 37 fatalities, 40 percent of them in Kingston alone.

To combat this spike in overdose deaths, Ulster County and Ellenville Regional Hospital have joined forces, creating a program to identify and help individuals struggling with opioid addictions, often exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"People are very isolated. They've been locked up in their houses, they've not been able to get out, they've not been able to socialize, and they're feeling more and more alone, and when they're alone they're more likely to use more," said Ellenville Regional Hospital CEO Steve Kelley.

The program will start by creating a database of opioid users throughout the county so that health providers can track a person's history of drug abuse to prevent them from overdosing.

"Being able to search through it, to be able to find the triggers, the triggers that cause people to overdose, and that way we can identify when those triggers hit; we can take an intervention before they overdose," said Kelley.

County Executive Pat Ryan said he hopes this tool will help more people stay on the right path to recovery.

"To make sure that, as they're going through these steps and processes on their path to recovery, that they're not slipping through the cracks or taking steps backwards," said Ryan.

The program will also designate care managers to focus on opioid intervention efforts by region; one care manager for the city of Kingston and two care managers for communities outside of Kingston.

"We can't give up on folks for whom this is really a life-long struggle with addiction, and we have to be there for them to support them," said Ryan.

If you or a loved one is struggling with opioid abuse you can reach out to the Recovery Service Center for Ulster County at (845) 443-8888.