January 2020


www.hamptonroadsmessenger.com


Overdose deaths accelerating during COVID-19


The Hampton Roads Messenger 11


Longest serving Virginia Sheriff B.J. Roberts dies


BY CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION


Over 81,000 drug overdose deaths occurred in the United States in the 12 months ending in May 2020, the highest number of overdose deaths ever recorded in a 12-month period, according to recent provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While


already increasing


overdose deaths were in the


months


preceding the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the latest numbers suggest an acceleration of overdose deaths during the pandemic. “The disruption to daily life due to


the COVID-19 pandemic has hit those with substance use disorder hard,” said CDC Director Robert Redfield, M.D. “As we continue the fight to end this pandemic, it’s important to not lose sight of different groups being affected in other ways. We need to take care of people suffering from unintended consequences.” Synthetic


opioids (primarily


illicitly manufactured fentanyl) appear to be the primary driver of the increases in overdose deaths, increasing 38.4 percent from the 12-month period leading up to June 2019 compared with the 12-month period leading up to May 2020. During this time period: 37 of the 38 U.S. jurisdictions


with available synthetic opioid data reported increases in synthetic opioid- involved overdose deaths. 18 of these jurisdictions reported increases greater than 50 percent. 10 western states reported over in synthetic


a 98 percent increase


opioid-involved deaths. Overdose deaths also


cocaine with illicitly increased


involving by


26.5


percent. Based upon earlier research, these deaths are likely to co-use or contamination cocaine


increased by


linked of


fentanyl or heroin. Overdose deaths involving psychostimulants, as methamphetamine,


the


psychostimulants number


now of cocaine- Houry, M.D., M.P.H., director


said Deb of


involved deaths.


“The increase in overdose deaths is concerning.”


CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. “CDC’s Injury Center continues to help and support communities responding to the evolving overdose crisis. Our priority is to do everything we can to equip people on the ground to save lives in their communities.”


highlights services to remain accessible


CDC recommendations The increase in overdose deaths the need for essential for


people most at risk of overdose and the need to expand prevention and response activities. CDC issued a


manufactured such


34.8 percent. The number of deaths involving exceeds


health advisory to medical and public health professionals, first responders, harm reduction


and other community


organizations, partners


recommending the following actions as appropriate based on local needs and characteristics: Expand distribution and use of naloxone and overdose prevention education.


Expand awareness about and access to and availability of treatment for substance use disorders.


Intervene early with individuals at highest risk for overdose. Improve


detection of overdose


outbreaks to facilitate more effective response.


What CDC is doing Measures taken at the national,


state, and local level to address the COVID-19 pandemic may have unintended consequences for substance use and overdose, but CDC is working with states, territories, tribes, cities, and counties across the country


to


continue drug overdose surveillance and prevention efforts. This includes assessing overdose data to understand trends, as well as working with funded jurisdictions to provide flexibilities where needed and technical assistance to identify strategies to inform public health action during the COVID-19 pandemic.


CDC began a multiyear Overdose


Data to Action cooperative agreement in September 2019 and funds health departments in 47 states; Washington, D.C.; two territories; and 16 cities and counties for drug overdose surveillance and prevention efforts. Funds awarded as part of this agreement support health departments in obtaining high quality, more comprehensive, and timelier data on overdose morbidity and mortality and using those data to inform prevention and response efforts. CDC is committed to preventing and other


opioid drug misuse,


overdoses, and deaths through five key strategies:


Using data to monitor emerging trends and direct prevention activities; Strengthening capacity


state, tribal to local, respond to


and the


epidemic; Working with providers, health systems, and payers to reduce unsafe exposure to opioids and treat addiction; Coordinating with public safety community-based identify


and rapidly partners reverse overdoses, link people to


overdose threats, to


effective treatment, and reduce harms associated with illicit opioids; and Increasing public awareness about the risks of opioids. Learn more about what CDC is doing to prevent opioid-related deaths on CDC’s Efforts to Prevent Opioid Overdoses and Other Opioid-Related Harms webpage.


Free programs for the whole family while you’re at home.


Virginia Beach Public Library is excited to provide online programming for children and adults during our extended building closure.


Visit VBgov.com/library-events for more details. BY CITY OF HAMPTON announced


The Hampton Sheriff’s Office that


longtime Hampton


Sheriff B.J. Roberts died peacefully at his home on Dec. 26, after celebrating Christmas Day with his family. The Sheriff's Office released a


statement mourning Sheriff Roberts' passing and noting that his loss would be felt throughout the city and the state, and even by sheriffs all across the country. Under


Roberts’ the


the Hampton Sheriff’s Office demonstrated


Excellence. In 2009 the office was awarded


a Commitment coveted


Accredited


Association, the and


achieving simultaneous accreditation from the


Triple Crown award, American


Correctional


Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies


Commission on the


National


Commission on Correctional Health Care.


In June of 2010, Sheriff Roberts was sworn in as the 69th president of the National Sheriff’s Association.


Roberts was the first and only African-American


in the 70-year


history of the organization to preside over its 18,990 members. Sheriff Roberts announced


leadership, to


Nationally


earlier this month his plans to retire from the position on January 8, 2021. Roberts served as Sheriff of Hampton for 28 years and was Virginia’s longest serving Sheriff. B.J. Roberts had nearly 50 years of combined dedicated law enforcement service on the Peninsula. Roberts was first elected as


Sheriff of Hampton in 1992 and was re-elected to serve six terms. Hampton City Council voted at


its meeting on Dec. 9 to petition the Hampton Circuit


Court requesting


that no special election be ordered and that the highest ranking deputy in the Sheriff's Office complete Sheriff B.J. Roberts' term of office for the remainder of the unexpired term. That would be Col. Karen Bowden, the undersheriff.


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