BROOME – Broome County District Attorney Stephen Cornwell Jr. sparked controversy Thursday, Sept. 1, issuing a public health warning after five more heroin overdose deaths were reported in Broome County during the last week of August.

The five latest deaths bring the total number of overdose deaths to 14 for the month of August – making it the deadliest month on record for overdose deaths in Broome County. The total of overdose deaths in the county has now risen to 58. Cornwell said that 53 deaths were attributed to opioid overdoses in the County in 2015.

Heroin overdoses have been plaguing the entire United States over the last number of years, and in particular, New York State. In March of this year, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that independent pharmacies could provide Naloxone to their customers without a prescription. Naloxone – also known as Narcan – is a medication that reverses opioid overdose. In a statement prepared by the Governor’s Office, it was said, 'Improved accessibility to the medication is one of the priorities at the center of the Governor’s fight to end opioid abuse in New York State.'

Closer to home, in Chenango County, District Attorney Joseph McBride, said, “In Chenango County, the presence of out of town drug dealers has dropped over the past eight months. There is obviously still a big heroin problem in our community, but I want to thank all law enforcement and all the residents of Chenango County for their help in combatting the drug problem. Nothing could make me or our office happier.”