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Vol. 98 No. 49
DECEMBER 2 - 8, 2021
Battling the drug surge Overdoses increase during the coronavirus pandemic such as methamphetamine also increased in the 12 months ending in April. Deaths from With the coronavirus pan- cocaine overdoses climbed as demic continuing to wreak well, as did those from natural havoc with the new and semi-synthetic Omicron variant, it opioids, such as preis easy to forget that scription pain medithe United States cation. was, and still is, bat“In the field, it’s tling a drug epidemoften heard that we ic whose scope is forgot the first epimade clear by a sindemic,” said Cindy gle sobering statisWo l f f, e x e c u t ive t i c : T h e r e we r e director of the 1 0 0 , 3 0 6 ove rd o s e Tempo Group, which deaths in the specializes in drug 12-month period and alcohol proending in April of grams for those of t h i s y e a r, a n all ages. “With the increase of nearly 29 pandemic, there was percent over the prean increase in the vious time period, use of all substancaccording to the es. We knew that Centers for Disease people who have a Control and Preven- CINDY WolFF substance abuse distion’s National Cen- Executive director, order would have a ter for Health Statisproblem.” Tempo Group tics. Wolf noted that The historic milewith more people stone of more than 100,000 fatali- staying at home, the increasing ties in a year is tied to the pan- isolation and diminished human demic, and to a more dangerous contact was bound to lead to a drug supply. Overdose deaths spike in drug use. “It’s everyfrom synthetic opioids (mostly thing we say not to do,” she said. fentanyl) and psychostimulants Continued on page 10
By JEFFREY BESSEN jbessen@liherald.com
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Eric Dunetz/Herald
lighting up the night The Hewlett-Woodmere Business Association hosted its annual Hanukkah celebration lighting on Sunday, the first night of the eight-day Jewish holiday. Steve Bouskila lit the menorah. Story, more photos, Page 16.
Drawing out kids’ Covid thoughts Cedarhurst pediatrician encourages expression By lISA MARGARIA lmargaria@liherald.com
Since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention signed off on the Pfizer-BioNTech’s child-size coronavirus vaccine — a low dose intended for children ages 5 to 11 — in early November, Cedarhurst pediatrician Dr. Mitchell Weiler has been administering the inoculations, vaccines, and then asking his young
patients to express their feelings about the shots by making drawings and writing about them. The New York State Department of Health has long suggested that those who get the vaccination remain at the site for at least 15 minutes so they can be monitored for any adverse reactions. “I was thinking, what are we going to do with this room full of kids in the waiting area?” recalled Weiler, who has spent
the past 17 years of his 40-year career at a practice on Carman Avenue in Cedarhurst, after a decade in Woodmere. To occupy the children during the post-vaccination waiting period, Weiler began to give them a prompt, which can be found written on blue paper and taped to a wall in the reception area. It reads, “Please draw a picture and tell us why you want a Continued on page 12
n the field, it’s often heard that we forgot the first epidemic. With the pandemic, there was an increase in the use of all substances.