Rhode Island issues opioid overdose alert

Gino DeAngelis,

CRANSTON, R.I. (WLNE) — The Rhode Island Department of Health and Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities, and Hospitals issued an alert due to an increase in nonfatal overdoses.

The Rhode Island Overdose Action Area Response Alert was issued for Region Seven, which comprises Cranston, Warwick, West Warwick, and Coventry, because it exceeded its weekly opioid overdose threshold from July 2 to July 8.

Department of Health said there were 11 reports of individuals receiving care from an emergency department for an opioid overdose, one higher than its threshold of 10.

Additionally, Regions Eight and Nine reached their respective thresholds of less than five in the same time period. This is the second week in a row that Region Eight reached its threshold.

Region Eight makes up Jamestown, Bristol, Warren, Portsmouth, Tiverton, Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, and Barrington, while Region Nine is made up of East Greenwich, West Greenwich, Exeter, Richmond, and Hopkinton.

The departments also said the state-wide threshold for 58 emergency medical service runs for opioid incidents was also reached for the same period.

The full alert can be read here.

Categories: Cranston, News, Rhode Island, Warwick

Related