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New York Counties and Coroners Partner for
'See the Signs, Save a Life' Opioid Addiction Awareness Campaign

06/28/18 06:30pm
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    Press Release from New York State Association of Counties:

    Counties and Coroners Ad Urges New Yorkers to See the Signs of Opioid
    Addiction



















    As the opioid crisis continues to devastate communities across New York State,
    a cross section of county leaders have come together to create a campaign to
    bring awareness to the signs of opioid abuse.

    The New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) has partnered with the
    New York State Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners (NYSCCME) to
    create a hard-hitting advertisement that will run on television stations throughout
    New York State.

    A comprehensive website, ny.seethesignssavealife.org, was created to anchor
    this campaign and is a resource for anyone affected by this fast-growing
    epidemic.

    "From 'first responder' law enforcement receiving calls for help, to the 'last
    responder' Coroners and Medical Examiners confirming the cause of death, local
    government officials confront the effects of addiction and opioid abuse in our
    communities every day," explained Stephen Acquario, Executive Director of
    NYSAC. "We need to continually educate and inform our communities of the
    danger associated with opioid abuse. We are hopeful that this campaign will
    raise awareness of the signs of addiction before it's too late. We can all
    encourage our families, friends, and neighbors to seek help and break the all too
    familiar cycle of use, abuse, addiction, overdose and death. It's never too late to
    see the signs and save a life."

    Scott Schmidt, President of NYSCCME, said, "The rationale behind this PSA
    was simple. We as Coroners, Medical Examiners and Funeral Directors are tired
    of watching people die senselessly. While we aren't on the front lines of this
    epidemic, (such as Fire and EMS personnel,) we are on the front line working
    with families in the aftermath as the last responders. We hear the repeated
    mantra of family members emphatically denying that their loved one used drugs.
    We are often the recipients of the overwhelming and often times heart-wrenching
    displays of grief and violent emotion because we are the ones with the answer
    that no one wants to hear. 'Your loved one died of a drug overdose.' The far-
    reaching effects of a drug overdose death are mind blowing. NYSCCME felt that
    by showing the after effects of using these lethal substances with an 'in-your-
    face' approach, we might be able to save at least one life."

    NYSAC and its member counties have been battling the opioid epidemic for
    years, through several agencies including county social services, health
    departments, law enforcement, jails, 9-1-1 dispatch, district attorneys, public
    defenders, probation, coroners and medical examiners.

    "Opioid abuse takes its toll on many facets of our communities, and it will take all
    of us, working together, to reduce its devastation," said NYSAC President
    MaryEllen Odell, the Putnam County Executive.

    View the PSA and other resources from NYSAC at http://www.nysac.org/opioids.

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