SAFE GC Coalition: Program Connects Overdose Patients With Detox

People treated for overdoses in two Nassau County hospital emergency rooms now seamlessly will be linked to residential treatment where they can detox and move to longer-term residential assistance, under a pilot program aimed at preventing relapses. After two years of planning, the program is beginning with emergency rooms at two hospitals: Northwell’s Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park and Nassau University Medical Center, a public hospital in East Meadow that Northwell is helping run.

Research indicates people addicted to opioids and other substances often return to their drug of choice shortly after leaving the emergency room, putting them at risk for another overdose — one they may not survive. This program will seek to reverse this by saving lives. By proposing treatment while the overdose victim is still in the hospital, addiction specialists are contacting them when they’re vulnerable and open to treatment. Patients will first go to Maryhaven Center of Hope in Freeport after the emergency room. While the patients are in detox, Maryhaven employees will work with insurance companies, Medicaid and Medicare on paperwork and approvals,

Northwell officials plan to see how this pilot program works and then will quickly expand to other Northwell emergency rooms. Northwell, the largest private health system in the state, has 13 Long Island hospitals.

The SAFE Glen Cove Coalition is conducting an opioid prevention awareness campaign entitled, "Keeping Glen Cove SAFE," in order to educate and update the community regarding opioid use and its consequences. To learn more about the SAFE Glen Cove Coalition please follow us on www.facebook.com/safeglencovecoalition or visit SAFE’s website to learn more about the Opioid Epidemic at www.safeglencove.org.