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WXXI, in partnership with public broadcasting stations across New York state, will air special programming examining the opioid crisis during the week of Oct. 15.New York’s Opioid Crisis is a first-of-its-kind partnership to draw attention to this public health crisis and raise awareness of services available in local communities for those affected by opioid addiction.Support for opioid crisis programming on WXXI is provided in part by the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services. A complete list of programs can be found here: WXXI.org/opioid-prog.We want to hear what you have to say about opioid and heroin use in our community. Please click on this link to take a short survey.

Law enforcement, public health officials, and parents to speak at opioid outreach seminars

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The chief medical investigator at the Monroe County Medical Examiner's office is urging people to be their own advocate when it comes to pain management.

Bob Zerby, whose job includes the oversight of field investigations and autopsies, has witnessed firsthand the surge in heroin and opioid-related deaths in recent years.  Death is the great equalizer, he says, but there is no one profile of an opioid or heroin user.

"There are no boundaries - rich or poor, inner city or suburban, black or white - it doesn't matter. It's everybody."

Monroe County’s Heroin Task Force reported 112 heroin overdoses and 17 deaths in 2018 as of the first week of February.

Zerby recommends that people educate themselves about the use of medications to control pain so they don't become dependent on them.

"If a doctor says, 'We're going to send you home with these big pain killers,' ask if there's an alternative that's not so addictive and so risky. Be your own advocate, because in the end, you are in charge of what you have."

Zerby is one of several panelists scheduled to speak at a series of opioid outreach seminars this week.  The first is tonight in Webster at the Willink Middle School cafeteria at 6:30 p.m.

The second seminar is Wednesday at Churchville-Chili Senior High at 6:30 p.m., and the third is Thursday at Hilton High School starting at 7 p.m.

Other panelists will include Monroe County Public Health Commissioner Dr. Michael Mendoza, District Attorney Sandra Doorley, and Monroe County Sheriff Deputy Michael Favata, in addition to counselors, community organizations, and the parents of children who have died as a result of their addiction.

Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo said the seminars are part of an effort to expand addiction education and awareness in the community.  

Beth Adams joined WXXI as host of Morning Edition in 2012 after a more than two-decade radio career. She was the longtime host of the WHAM Morning News in Rochester. Her career also took her from radio stations in Elmira, New York, to Miami, Florida.