Police Rally Residents In Combatting Overdoses

FOREST HILLS, QUEENS — Police are urging residents to join the fight against drug and alcohol addiction and overdose.

The NYPD’s 112 Precinct, which oversees the Forest Hills and Rego Park neighborhoods of Queens, recently tweeted a call to action.

If residents see an overdose in progress, they should call 911 to help save a life, police say.

The New York State 911 Good Samaritan Law allows people to call 911 without fear of arrest if they are having a drug or alcohol-related overdose that requires emergency medical care or when witnessing someone who is overdosing, according to the NYS Department of Health. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

Everyone, regardless of age, is protected by the 911 Good Samaritan Law.

There were 1,754 opioid overdoses in terms of outpatient emergency department visits in 2016 and 1,153 such overdoses requiring hospitalizations in Queens County in 2016, according to the state Health Department.

There were also 7,978 alcohol-related hospitalizations reported in the county in 2012.

For more information on overdose prevention, support or referral to treatment, call the 24-hour hotline 1-888-NYC-WELL or visit the NYC Well website.

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