Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments

Substance Use and Disorders

Overdose Prevention

Drug overdose is a leading cause of preventable death nationally and locally. Many overdose deaths involve opioids, particularly illegally manufactured fentanyl. Fentanyl may be present in heroin, cocaine, counterfeit prescription pills, and other drugs.

Many fatal fentanyl overdoses in Genesee and Orleans Counties involve both fentanyl and cocaine. Some people may intentionally use both substances, while others may not know that cocaine or another drug contains fentanyl.

Cocaine and other stimulants can also cause fatal heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular emergencies. Older adults and people with conditions such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol may face an increased risk.

GO Health works with local partners through the Genesee-Orleans-Wyoming CARES Alliance and other initiatives to reduce substance use disorders and fatal overdoses. GO Health also regularly coordinates Fatality Review Boards. These confidential, multidisciplinary reviews identify risk factors and circumstances associated with overdose and suicide deaths and recommend community-based prevention strategies.

View the Genesee and Orleans Counties Overdose Dashboard

Preventing Overdose Deaths

Several resources and strategies can help protect people from an overdose.

Naloxone

Naloxone, commonly known by the brand name Narcan, can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose. It should be administered when someone is showing signs of an overdose, including difficulty breathing or not breathing, even when it is not known whether the person used an opioid.

The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments offer naloxone training to community members. Contact your local health department for information about upcoming training opportunities.

Fentanyl Test Strips

Fentanyl test strips can be used to check drugs for the presence of fentanyl. Test strips are available at no cost through the MATTERS Network.

Never Use Alone

People who use cocaine or other drugs can reduce their risk by never using alone or by taking turns when using drugs with other people. The Never Use Alone Hotline is available at 1-800-484-3731.

Treatment for Substance Use Disorders

Local substance use treatment services are available from:

Veterans can find information about substance use treatment through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

A 24-hour peer support hotline staffed by UConnectCare is available at (585) 815-1800.

Linkage to Care App

The mobile Linkage to Care app connects residents with services such as 24-hour assistance lines, detoxification programs, inpatient and outpatient treatment, medication for opioid use disorder, self-help meetings, and sharps disposal locations.

Public Safety Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative

In-person entry points for treatment are available 24 hours a day through the Public Safety Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative at the following locations:

Alcohol Use

Excessive alcohol use is a leading preventable cause of death in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, excessive alcohol use causes approximately 178,000 deaths each year—nearly 500 deaths per day.

These deaths include motor vehicle crashes, alcohol poisoning, suicide, and chronic illnesses such as liver disease, heart disease, and cancer. Alcohol-impaired driving can also harm passengers, pedestrians, and people in other vehicles.

Adults who choose to drink can reduce their risk by drinking less. Current federal guidance defines moderate drinking as two drinks or fewer per day for men and one drink or fewer per day for women. Some people should not drink at all, including those who are pregnant or may be pregnant. Even low levels of alcohol use may increase certain health risks.

Alcohol Resources

Tobacco and Nicotine Use

Cigarette smoking is a leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cigarette smoking and secondhand smoke exposure cause more than 480,000 deaths each year.

Secondhand smoke contributes to more than 40,000 deaths among nonsmoking adults and approximately 400 infant deaths annually. It can cause heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer in adults. Children exposed to secondhand smoke face an increased risk of respiratory infections, asthma attacks, and sudden infant death syndrome.

Smoking rates are higher in Genesee and Orleans Counties than the New York State average, placing local residents at greater risk of illness and disability caused by smoking and secondhand smoke.