New state ‘hotline’ for people seeking help with opioids

State Sen. Kevin Kelly, Rep. Hoydick, Rep. McGorty, Rep. Perillo, Rep. Sredzinski, and Rep. Gresko are announcing that the state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services has created a toll free number to help people seeking opioid treatment and services as heroin deaths are climbing.

Residents can call 1-800-563-4086 to be directed to a walk-in assessment center in their area where they will be evaluated, state officials said. People will also receive a follow up phone call by trained staff to determine if they have received the help they need and to problem-solve any barriers to treatment.

The number is in effect immediately.

According to the state’s Chief Medical Examiner Dr. James Gill, the number of people who have fatally overdosed on heroin or a combination of heroin and other drugs such as fentanyl has dramatically increased in the past three years from 174 in 2012 to 415 in 2015. The number of fatal overdoses on drugs was up from 357 in 2012 to 723 in 2015.