SEPTEMBER
30 2022
PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT: Deadly Rainbow Fentanyl looks like Sweet Tarts If you are concerned that someone is having an overdose, call 911 immediately and stay with the person. If the person who calls is also using illegal substances, they will not face legal action if they take action to get help.
Photo Submitted Image of rainbow fentanyl
MAYVILLE, N.Y. – The Chautauqua County Health Department, Chautauqua County Department of Mental Hygiene and Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office are issuing an alert to warn parents of a new trend among fentanyl drug traffickers. “Rainbow fentanyl” is the name of brightly colored pills that look like candy but are really a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. “You may think it’s just a pile of some sort of candy, but the federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) say it’s actually a pile of deadly fentanyl pills,” said Christine Schuyler, County Public Health Director. “This is incredibly concerning because we know that the drugs are being dyed bright colors in the hopes of getting more young people to try it and become addicted to opioids. Fentanyl, rainbow
or not, is deadly.” Fentanyl is sometimes mixed with other illicit drugs and made to look like prescription drugs. Unless a drug is prescribed by a licensed medical professional and dispensed by a legitimate pharmacy, you CANNOT know if it’s fake or legitimate. “While we haven’t seen these in this area at this point, everyone needs to be aware that any pills and/ or candy purchased on the street have a high potential to contain fentanyl,” said Chautauqua County Sheriff Jim Quattrone. Carmelo Hernandez, Chautauqua County Mental Hygiene Director, said, “Keeping an open dialogue with youth about the dangers of illicit drugs can help protect them. Youth should know that illegally obtained pills may contain fentanyl, and that even a TINY amount of fentanyl
can be fatal. Many of the young people who use substances are struggling with mental-health problems or addiction that are going completely unaddressed. If you see red flags, like using alcohol, marijuana, or nicotine; struggling in school; or changes or deteriorations in their relationships, find help in Chautauqua County at https://combataddictionchq.com/find-help or call the Chautauqua County Warm Line 1-877-426-4373 or text 1-716-392-0252. If you or someone you know is in a crisis, call the 24/7 Chautauqua County crisis line 1-800-724-0461.” Signs of an overdose include falling asleep; loss of consciousness; shallow or no breathing; limp body (though may be rigid with fentanyl); choking or gurgling sounds; small, constricted, 'pinpoint' pupils (may be difficult to see in an emergency); pale blue or cold skin, lips, or nails.
Keep the opioid overdose reversal drug Naloxone (Narcan) on hand; it is available for free or low cost in a variety of ways in Chautauqua County: · The Mental Health Association: 716-397-0140; · Evergreen Health Services in Jamestown: 716664-7855 · Go to your local pharmacy and ask about the Naloxone (Narcan) Co-payment Assistance Program (N-CAP). For individuals with prescription coverage as part of their health insurance plan, N-CAP ensures that there are no or lower out-of-pocket expenses. According to DEA Administrator Anne Milgram, rainbow fentanyl is fentanyl pills and powder that come in a variety of bright colors, shapes, and sizes and is a deliberate effort by drug traffickers to drive addiction amongst kids and young adults. The DEA is relentlessly working to stop the trafficking of rainbow fentanyl and defeat the Mexican drug cartels that are responsible for the vast majority of the fentanyl that is being trafficked in the United States. h t t p s : // w w w . d e a . g o v / press-releases/2022/08/30/ dea-wa r n s-br i g ht ly- co lore d-fe nt a nyl-u s e d-t a rget-young-americans.
DHHS ANNOUNCES AN UPCOMING ANIMAL RABIES IMMUNIZATION CLINIC Drive-in Rabies Immunization Clinic Scheduled for October 8 in Gerry Pre-Registration for Drive-in Rabies Clinics is Required
MAYVILLE, N.Y. – The Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services (CCDHHS) Division of Public Health has announced a free rabies vaccination clinic. The clinic will be held on Saturday, October 8, 2022 from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Town of Gerry Highway Department at 4675 Route 60 in Gerry, N.Y. This clinic will be a drive-in clinic and animals must be pre-registered to receive vaccinations. Vaccinations will be provided free of charge to all dogs, cats, and domesticated ferrets three months of age and older. The Town of Gerry, along with the Chautauqua County Division of Public Health will co-sponsor the clinic. Dr. Katie Ball will be the attending veterinarian. To pre-register online for the Town of Gerry clinic visit: https://on.ny. gov/3DO4Jzz. There are a limited number of spots available at these clinics, so pet owners should pre-register online as soon as possible. If you register but decide not to attend the event, please cancel your appointment so the spot is available for another pet. You can cancel appointments via the confirmation email you receive when you register. Walk-ins may be accepted, but are not guaranteed. At the clinic, vehicles will enter and follow the established traffic pattern on-site.
Pet owners will stay in their vehicles with their pets, unless otherwise instructed. Pet owners must bring previous rabies vaccination records for each animal receiving a shot to ensure proper and effective vaccination; clinic staff will confirm previous rabies vaccination records. All dogs must be on a leash. All cats must be in a carrier. Animal handlers will transport animals from the vehicle to the veterinarian for vaccination. New York State Public Health Law requires each dog, cat, and domesticated ferret over the age of four months be vaccinated against rabies. County residents are encouraged to be responsible pet owners by having their pets vaccinated. Rabies is a very serious disease of warm-blooded animals caused by a virus. Raccoons, bats, skunks, and foxes are common disease carriers. The virus is transmitted to humans and animals through saliva and can enter the body through a bite, scratch, or open cut. The rabies virus infects the central nervous system and can cause brain swelling and ultimately death within days of the onset of symptoms. For more information about the clinic and rabies in general, visit https://chqgov. com/environmental-health/ rabies-prevention or contact the Division of Public Health at (716) 753-4481.