Schenectady County sees eight overdoses in 24 hours, police say; Rotterdam sees two, one death

SCHENECTADY – The Schenectady Police Department issued an extraordinary appeal for drug users to seek help and treatment Wednesday evening after eight overdoses occurred in Schenectady County in the last 24 hours.

None of the Schenectady overdoses are believed to have been fatal, but Rotterdam police later Wednesday reported two overdoses at the same location in the town and one of those was fatal.

At the Schenectady overdoses, Schenectady police or firefighters administered the Narcan overdose reversal agent in several instances in rapid succession Tuesday night in the Central State Street neighborhood, according to information obtained at the scenes. All the victims were taken to hospitals.

“We have been informed by our partners in [Schenectady County] Public Health that there have been [eight] overdoses today in Schenectady County, likely due to adulterated cocaine,” the Police Department posted on Facebook.

Scanner information indicated there were also two overdoses in Rotterdam, which police there Wednesday later confirmed happened early in the morning, leading to the one death.

In addition to the Ellis Medicine emergency room on Nott Street, people who are ready to seek help can simply come to the Schenectady police station on Liberty Street to be connected with services under the Schenectady Cares program. Ellis also operates The Living Room at the State Street Health Center, where people can seek mental health assistance without going to the emergency room.

Other addiction service providers being recommended by police include Conifer Park in Glenville, New Choices in Schenectady, Catholic Charities/Project Safe Point, and Hometown Health Schenectady.

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