News Summary
The Rhode Island Department of Health has raised an overdose spike alert for Region 4 due to a notable increase in non-fatal overdoses. In a tragic incident, a 27-year-old woman died in Warwick after consuming suspected fentanyl-laced marijuana. Additionally, the state’s child welfare system faces difficulties as many youths are placed in out-of-state facilities, raising concerns over safety and oversight. A comprehensive strategy is needed to enhance local youth care options amid these public health challenges.
Johnston, Rhode Island – The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) has issued an overdose spike alert due to a significant rise in drug overdose activity in Johnston and North Providence, referred to as Region 4. The alert covers the week from May 28 to June 3, during which four non-fatal overdoses were recorded, marking the region’s overdose threshold for the first time since April 2023. Overdose spike alerts are disseminated when there is an unusual number of non-fatal overdoses occurring within a seven-day timeframe. More information regarding the situation has been provided by the RIDOH.
In a related serious incident, a 27-year-old woman tragically died in Warwick after consuming marijuana suspected to be laced with fentanyl. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by unregulated substances. The woman was discovered unresponsive at a hotel around 2:34 a.m. on Thursday. Despite lifesaving efforts from emergency responders, she could not be revived, prompting local authorities to investigate the source of the potentially contaminated marijuana. Officials are urging the public to exercise extreme caution when purchasing or using marijuana from unregulated sources.
Additionally, the state’s child welfare system faces challenges as it relies on out-of-state residential treatment facilities for youths in need of psychiatric help. The closure of the only in-state psychiatric treatment facility, St. Mary’s Home for Children, has forced approximately 80 Rhode Island youths to be placed in about 30 different out-of-state facilities across the country. Most of these facilities are located in nearby New England states, including Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, and New Hampshire, but some are as distant as Alabama and Florida.
A report from the US Senate Finance Committee has characterized some of these out-of-state facilities as “Warehouses of Neglect,” highlighting issues of abuse and mistreatment that have emerged in these settings. However, the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) indicates that no youths have been removed from these facilities due to safety concerns thus far. The costs associated with these out-of-state placements are significantly higher, with charges ranging from $723 to $1,438 per day, compared to the previous rate of approximately $1,000 per day for St. Mary’s.
The number of youths sent to out-of-state facilities has escalated from 62 in July 2022 to 81 by July 2024. Correspondingly, the state’s spending on these placements has surged from $71,380 in fiscal year 2022 to nearly $2 million by June 2024. Child welfare advocates have voiced concerns relative to the lack of oversight and monitoring of these out-of-state placements, emphasizing the need for increased supervision to ensure the safety and well-being of those involved.
Youths in these facilities have expressed feelings of isolation and have shown a preference for being placed in environments that they find more familiar, such as the Rhode Island Training School. Past investigations conducted by the state’s child advocate revealed alarming incidents of drug overdoses and abuse at St. Mary’s, leading to its eventual closure.
There is a growing consensus among child welfare advocates regarding the need for a comprehensive strategy that decreases reliance on out-of-state facilities and focuses on enhancing care options available to vulnerable youths within Rhode Island. The RIDOH’s overdose spike alert coupled with the child welfare system’s challenges highlights significant public health concerns that continue to affect the community and its youth.
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