RyeCity REVIEW THE
August 24, 2018 | Vol. 6, Number 35 | www.ryecityreview.com
State sees uptick in drug, opiod overdoses By JAMES PERO Staff Writer
Laying the foundation ArtsWestchester will unveil an exhibit focusing on the role bricks played in the history of the Hudson River Valley. For more, see page 6. Photo courtesy bannermancastle.org
Ossining wall collapse prompts countywide inspection County-owned retaining walls are getting added attention from lawmakers after inclement weather brought a concrete wall crashing down in Ossining. On Aug. 15, a large concrete retaining wall crumbled next to apartments built for residents ages 55 and above located on 80 Main St. It is unclear if weather was the direct cause with an engineer’s report still pending. Nei-
ther residents nor the building were damaged, however, in the collapse but the incident sparked a response from County Executive, George Latimer, a Democrat. “What we saw in Ossining overnight should be a warning to all governments that advance preparation for possible problems saves time, money and energy in the long run,” Latimer said.
“That is why I am issuing this directive—it is imperative that we ensure the safety of all our residents who could be impacted by this type of emergency.” Latimer said that under his direction county engineers will inspect Westchester’s retaining walls for flaws as a result of the collapse. “Westchester County has several well-built retaining walls on
its properties which have stood up to stretches of rain similar to the one our region has experienced—even standing up through the worst of [Hurricane] Sandy,” he said. “Regardless, the county will be checking all retaining walls in an abundance of caution.” Retaining walls, according to WALL continued on page 9
New York State is far from immune to a national—and record breaking—uptick in fatal drug overdoses spurred by opioid and heroin usage. According to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control, CDC, New York’s drug overdose deaths, not including New York City, increased to an estimated 2,659 in 2018 from 2,521 in 2017, marking a 5.5 percent increase. Estimated overdose deaths in New York City rose just .8 percent comparatively. Nationally, according to the same report, drug overdoses killed about 72,000 people, eclipsing the annual totals of gun deaths, car crashes, and HIV. The total of drug overdoses marks a 6.6 percent increase over last year. Driving the increase in overdose deaths nationally is the usage of dangerous opioids and heroin, the former of which are becoming increasingly more harrowing, according to the CDC. In particular, the powerful opioid fentanyl has found its way into many communities where, even in trace amounts, usage can be fatal. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, fentanyl has been shown to be fatal in doses as small as 2 milligrams, making it about 25 to 50 times more potent than heroin. In Westchester County, opioid overdoses over the past year have declined slightly, decreasing to 99 in 2017 from 126 the year prior,
according to data from the New York State Department of Health. Throughout the state, however, opioids—prescription medication that mimics the effects of heroin—continue to represent a major factor in overdose deaths, rising 30 percent between 2009 and 2013, according to the state Department of Health. In 2016, the latest year for which data is available,1,990 people died in New York from opioid use alone. As a result of the significant increase in opioid deaths throughout the state and across the country, state legislatures have voted to sue pharmaceutical companies for negligence, claiming that private drug manufacturers downplayed the potential health risks of the drugs. On Aug. 14, New York joined 27 other states across the country in filing a lawsuit against Purdue Pharma LP, the manufacturers of popular pain-killer OxyContin. “The opioid epidemic was manufactured by unscrupulous distributors who developed a $400 billion industry pumping human misery into our communities,” said Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat in a statement. “This lawsuit sends a clear message all these who mislead the public to increase their profit margins that we will hold you accountable for your actions.” Likewise, Westchester lawmakers voted to file their own suit against pharmaceutical companies who they hold partly responsible for a wave of opioid addiction and deaths. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com