Drug overdoses continue to trend down, according to new numbers from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office: 726 in 2020 as compared to nearly 840 in 2019.

But there were more deaths, with 137 dying due to opioids in 2020.

Gates to Recovery President Randy Cimino said battling the opioid epidemic on top of the coronavirus pandemic is no easy task, and he tips his hat to Monroe County Officials like Adam Bello, Dr. Michael Mendoza, and law enforcement.

“They’re all working very hard, and doing the best they can with what they have,” Cimino said. “Obviously, this COVID thing is a huge, huge setback.”

He said the pandemic has caused depression and isolation, which often fuels addiction.

“The more people that lose their jobs, the more depressed they get. The more depressed they get, the more often they use and surrender to their addiction because they feel all is lost,” Cimino said.

A strained hospital system means less attention to mental health services.

“They’re just not getting the attention. They weren’t before the pandemic, and they’re certainly not getting it now,” Cimino said. “And so they’re being sat down, not evaluated and then sent back.”

He said lower overdose numbers may actually be due to less reporting, with a growing access to life-saving medications like NARCAN.

“So many people have NARCAN and are able to treat themselves or their friends on the spot, so there’s less calls to first responders or ambulances for help,” Cimino said.

But a higher death toll is cause for concern.

“Everybody is so concerned, as they should be, about the people getting very, very sick from COVID and dying. So at the other end of it, nobody is paying attention to the addicts at this particular time,” Cimino said.

He said in 2021, the challenge will be turning more attention back to mental health services.

“We need to get our hospitals on board so that when men and women are taken in, they’re evaluated and offered the services necessary for them,” Cimino said.

And he says anyone is welcome to call their 24/7 hotline at anytime at 585-310-4080.