Smartphone app available here
(MINEOLA, N.Y.) - Nassau County Executive Laura Curran was joined by Nassau County Legislator Joshua Lafazan (Woodbury), Nassau County Police Department Commissioner Patrick Ryder, recovery advocates and Nassau County health and human services officials to unveil the Nassau C.A.R.E.S. smartphone application on Thursday, Aug. 15.
Nassau C.A.R.E.S. is the outcome of legislation - introduced by Legislator Lafazan, passed unanimously by the Legislature and signed into law by County Executive Curran - that directed the County to create, publish and maintain a smartphone app containing: a comprehensive directory of substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery services; a ZIP code-searchable guide for treatment centers; a Narcan training calendar; support hotline telephone numbers; and links to county, state and federal resources.
The app, which is designed to provide residents with convenient and rapid access to information identifying substance abuse and recovery resources in their community, is available to download for free from the App Store.
“The battle is far from over, but Nassau County is leading the way in the fight against the opioid crisis. Thanks to our multi-pronged campaign focused on treatment, enforcement, and education, Nassau’s opioid overdose rate is dropping faster than any other large County in New York,” County Executive Curran said. “The introduction of the Nassau C.A.R.E.S app marks another concrete step we’ve taken to provide those struggling with addiction the support and resources they need to get healthy.”
“Nassau C.A.R.E.S. revolutionizes how individuals can obtain information and resources. Gone are the days of panicked Googling and desperately searching the Internet for answers. Gone are the days of trying to contact friends to see if somebody knows of a clinic or hospital with treatment availability. And gone are the days of not knowing who you can call at 3 a.m.,” Legislator Lafazan said. “With Nassau C.A.R.E.S, any individual can get the help they need - whether they themselves are battling the disease of addiction, a parent of a child needing support, or a community member who simply wants to understand what resources are available.”
According to the New York State Department of Health’s July 2019 Quarterly County Opioid Report, 110 people died of opioid overdoses in Nassau County in 2018 as compared to 193 in 2017 – a 43 percent decline in fatalities and the largest decline amongst the 10 most populous counties outside of New York City. In addition, hospitalizations during the same period decreased by 14.5 percent in the County,
While Nassau’s decline in opioid deaths is seen as a positive development, it is essential to continue building on life-saving initiatives. Nassau’s Department of Health and Human Services has trained more than 15,000 individuals to administer intranasal Naloxone, and Nassau officials remain committed to Operation Natalie, the County’s ongoing response to the opioid crisis which directs an influx of enforcement, treatment and community education resources to hard-hit communities.
