Sarah Trafton is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media that a second overdose spike alert in one week was issued in Greene County on May 3. Having two alerts in one week is unusual, Greener Pathways Program Director Carl Quinn said. Both Columbia and Greene counties have had more spikes than usual this year, with Greene at three spikes and Columbia at four. An overdose alert is issued when two or more overdoses are reported within 24 hours. The cause behind this year’s increase is unclear, Quinn said. “As of right now we’ve had four since Saturday,” Quinn said. “Three of the four were within the village of Catskill. The fourth one, we are working to confirm the location.” All four overdoses were reversed with Narcan, Quinn said. “Some of the four were heroin, some were oxycodone,” he said. The alert last week was triggered by two overdoses within 45 minutes of each other, one in Durham and one in Coxsackie. “It’s very unusual to have two [spike alerts] in one week,” Quinn said. “It’s possible that they purchased from the same contaminated supply but we have no way of knowing that for sure.” Columbia County has seen a 64 percent increase in overdoses in 2021, compared to the previous year, and a 150 percent increase in fatal overdoses. The preliminary numbers for Greene County indicate a decrease, but Quinn said the county reports overdoses differently. “In Greene County, the 911 center gives that information to an investigator, who follows through on whether or not it was an overdose before they enter it in the system,” he said. In Columbia County, the 911 center reports the suspected overdose immediately. Residents in need of Narcan can text NARCANKIT to 21000 to request a kit. The texting service should never be used in place of 911 if an overdose occurs, Quinn said. Greener Pathways can be reached at 518-291-4500 or 518-822-7437. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.