Trillium Health touts overdose harm reduction services

ROUCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Approximately 700 individuals in Monroe County have overdosed since the start of 2024, according to the latest numbers on the county’s opioid overdose dashboard .

More than 70 of those have been potentially fatal.

Trillium Health’s Harm Reduction Services Center is one of several local organizations and locations that is helping to connect people who are battling addiction with the resources they need.

Julie Ritzler-Shelling has been working with Trillium Health for more than a decade. She tells News 8 it’s more well-known fentanyl is in most, if not all, of the illicit drug supply in Rochester. The synthetic opioid —approved by the FDA for pain relief use and anesthetic— is also about 100 times more potent than morphine; 50 times that of heroin.

“I think what we’re seeing now is the scientific result of increased tolerance for individuals. So the more fentanyl that’s present in the drug supply, the higher the tolerance of the individual and the more fentanyl the individual will need, not to feel ‘high’ but to feel normal and to not be sick,” Itzler-Shelling said.

Trillium Health provides a range of services for a range of needs, from a clinic located at 259 Monroe Avenue, which includes wrap-around supportive care, a pediatric center on Science Parkway, the Delevan Street harm reduction site for those actively using, and the Mocha Center on West Main — all of which take the approach of building relationships with the person who walks in the door.

Another goal at Trillium is to reduce the stigma around addiction, educating the community about the resources they offer, and providing tools – such as free Narcan and drug supply test kits.

Trillium Health can be reached at (585) 545-7200.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.