YARMOUTH – Yarmouth Police have released the number of overdoses that officers have responded to so far this year.
Over the first six months of 2017, the department responded to 45 heroin/fentanyl overdoses and 18 other drug overdoses.
There have been six heroin/fentanyl overdose deaths this year.
Officers used the overdose reversal drug Narcan on 33 people so far in 2017, and of those 33 people, seven were administered by civilians.
Most of the overdoses in Yarmouth this year have come in March (13) and June (14).
At this time last year, there were 54 overdoses with 36 coming from heroin and 18 being non-heroin.
“This product is being pushed, it’s being manufactured in amounts that have never been seen before and it keeps coming, it just keeps coming,” said Police Chief Frank Frederickson during a presentation to selectmen Tuesday night.
In 2015, there were 69 overdoses during the first six months.
As of June 30, there have been 6 overdose deaths in the town, compared to 12 last year and 13 in 2015.
Still, there were a total of 102 overdoses in Yarmouth in 2016 and 100 in 2015.
Chief Frederickson said that tackling the opioid epidemic has taken a toll on his department.
“We want to fight, do the effort, but when have to take our assets that are doing the job, off the front line and put them just to cover some holes, it takes away from our ability to do everything as complete as we want to,” said Frederickson.
According to a 2015 study in Barnstable County, approximately 3 percent of the population is addicted to opioids.
About 8 percent is addicted to alcohol.
A total of 39 overdose follow-ups have been conducted by the Proactive Anti-Crime Unit, in conjunction with Gosnold.
By JUSTIN SAUNDERS, CapeCod.com Newscenter
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