Nora Mishanec is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media Columbia County health officials issued an overdose spike alert Mon., Apr. 6, following a reported increase in non-fatal overdoses over the weekend. “The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an unprecedented disruption to the normal operating procedures of health and human services agencies,” the county health department said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the necessity for overdose prevention and response has not abated during the pandemic.” A mobile van distributing Narcan kits was present at Kinderhook Town Hall and Chatham Firehouse on Monday. Peer advocates were also on hand to offer harm reduction education, said Greener Pathways Program Director Carl Quinn. Quinn said there was a "dramatic uptick in overdoses," but offered no further information. “As part of our response plan, we take our vehicle out into the community when that happens,” he said. The working theory is that heroin, laced with fentanyl, may be coming from one or two dealers based in northern Columbia County. “No one died this weekend, but some are requiring multiple doses of Narcan to reverse it, which does tell you about the potency of the fentanyl,” Quinn said. Health services remain available despite the COVID-19 shutdown, and the helpline is fully operational. Anyone seeking help for themselves or a family member is encouraged to call Greener Pathways at 518-822-7437 or Columbia County Pathways To Recovery at 877-467-3365. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.