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IN THE
Syracuse University’s annual Family Weekend is upon us. Here’s a breakdown of what to do and where to go, even if your family isn’t going to make it. Page 7
PanGEA, a new student group, aims to bridge the gap between domestic and international students through entrepreneurship competitions. Page 3
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OPIOID DEATHS DROP IN 2018 338
County opioid overdose rate still exceeds state, national average
OPIOID OVERDOSE DEATHS PER 100,000 PEOPLE (2012-16) source: opioid misuse tool
14.1
National
Total opioid-related deaths in Onondaga County between 2012-16
14.8
New York state
22.6
Story by Carolina Espinal
Onondaga County
contributing writer
Graphics by Bridget Slomian presentation director
T
he fatalities from opioid overdose in Onondaga County exceeded state and national averages between 2012 and 2016, a new online tool shows, though data also indicates that the opioid overdose rate in 2018 so far has decreased since 2017. At a rate of 22.6 people per 100,000, the mortality rate from opioid overdose in Onondaga County between 2012 and 2016 exceeds the mortality rate in New York state, which was 14.8, and the national rate, which was 22.5. Opioids are pain-reducing medications that include prescription and illegal drugs, like oxycontin, hydrocodone and heroin. Monika Taylor, director of behavioral health at Crouse Hospital said the hospital offers inpatient and outpatient drug treatment programs. The inpatient facility offers gender specific treatment for both men and women 18 years old and over, she said. Taylor said Crouse’s outpatient program has about 760 patients from a variety of demographic backgrounds. The patients range from 18 to 70 years old, and the majority of patients are white, she said. The outpatient rehabilitation program in Crouse Hospital has several levels of care. Some patients go in for therapy and vocational support four or five days a week.
80
TOTAL OPIOID OVERDOSE DEATHS IN ONONDAGA COUNTY source: onondaga county opioid epidemic report
52 2015
99 2016
Percentage of fatalities from opioid overdose in Onondaga County between 2012-16 – there were 338 fatalities from opioid overdose out of 420 total fatal drug overdoses source: onondaga county opioid epidemic report
There was a list of more than 400 people who waited 14 to 16 months to get into treatment in previous years, she said. In addition to Crouse, Ross Sullivan, director of the Opioid Bridge Clinic at SUNY Upstate Medical University, said the clinic has seen about 500 people in the past two and a half years. Seventy-five to 80 percent of those patients were linked to more treatment after their initial clinic treatment, he said. Sullivan, who started the clinic, said many people who started in the emergency department after an overdose or withdrawal have come back to see him and are still sober two
64 2017
36 2018
to three years later. “To really be able to see somebody change their life and become healthy, whether it be a productive member of society or productive family member or friend, it’s really the most rewarding thing,” Sullivan said. Taylor said prescription drug drop-off centers are stationed in different police departments throughout the community. The centers act as incentives to encourage people to discard unused medication, she said. Mariah Senecal-Reilly, Onondaga County Health Department program director, said see opioids page 4
on campus
SU kicks off 2nd Boost the ‘Cuse fundraiser By Catherine Leffert asst. news editor
Syracuse University will launch its second 24-hour fundraiser on Thursday with a goal of having at least 5,000 people donate money to the university. Boost the ‘Cuse is an all-day fundraiser in which alumni, parents, students and other members of the SU community are encouraged via digital mediums, such as email and Twitter, to donate to the school. This year, the goal is for 5,000 individual donors to give any sum of money, anytime on Thursday. In 2017, the inaugural 24-hour
fundraiser raised more than $1,765,000. About half of the donors were alumni, about 20 percent were faculty and about 20 percent were parents, students, board members and “friends.” The goal for the fundraiser last year was getting 1,870 donors, based on the founding year of SU. Just under 4,000 people donated to the school in 2017, exceeding the university’s goal by more than double, said David Wishart, assistant vice president for philanthropic engagement. “My focus has been on getting to that donor number,” Wishart said. “I just hope it’s a day that
people enjoy the opportunity to give back to the university, enjoy the opportunity to provide the students with more resources, enhance the student experience.” The day is meant to bring the campus together and give a sense of community to people who are donating money, Wishart said. Kim Infanti, executive director of digital engagement and communications for the Office of Alumni Engagement, said the university intends to use social media as a way for the community to be more aware of Boost the ‘Cuse. Wishart said many choose to handle their philanthropy and gift-
giving privately, either through oneon-one conversations or by mail. “The Boost the ‘Cuse activity and crowdfunding initiatives in general are opportunities for those who want to give with a big sense of community, to participate in the day,” Wishart said. There will be snacks on the Quad, Snapchat filters, selfies with Vice President and Chief Facilities Officer Pete Sala and a hashtag, #BoostCuse, to increase engagement around campus, Infanti added. She said she thinks more than 5,000 donors will donate during the fundraiser. “We’re really trying to make this see fundraiser page 4
city
Coffee shops respond to straw ban By Colleen Ferguson asst. news editor
As coffee chains like Starbucks phase out plastic straws and start nationwide conversations about plastic use, Syracuse coffee shops are implementing other sustainable practices. Starbucks announced in July that plastic straws would no longer be used at any location by 2020, and instead the chain will use strawless lids and straws made from other materials. Though owners and operators at local cafes like Salt City Coffee, Recess Coffee and Cafe Kubal said straw conversations have started at their shops since the Starbucks announcement, they’re looking first to practices like composting and recycling to reduce their environmental impact. Salt City, located in a building from the 1860s on West Onondaga Street, opened in March 2017. Despite not having the profit margins of a chain like Starbucks, owner Aaron Metthe said one of the shop’s goals has been to consider its environmental responsibility and remain “viable.” Last year, Salt City partnered with Brady Faith Center, a religious and community organization on South Avenue, to compost their coffee grounds, Metthe said. The shop saved the used grounds, and Brady Faith used them as fertilizer for its urban farm project. “We’re trying to think through what can we do that makes sense for us,” he said. Salt City is looking at alternatives to straws, a conversation that started when Starbucks made their announcement, Metthe said. The shop is planning to experiment with alternatives such as paper straws in the future, he added. Beyond straws, Salt City is also trying to be more mindful of paper product usage and recently made the switch to LED lighting. “(With) how small we are, we think to ourselves there’s no way this is actually going to make a difference,” he said. “Starbucks yes, us no.” Cafe Kubal also pushes compost and the reduction of plastic straw use, said Rachael Smith, cafe manager of the Marriott Syracuse Downtown location. The Eastwood, Golisano Children’s Hospital and South Salina Street locations of Cafe Kubal all compost, Smith said. The South Salina location composts about 56 gallons of coffee grounds a week. Smith added that Cafe Kubal puts see straws page 4