Year in Review: Opioid Epidemic in the Hudson Valley

This was the first year of Hudson Valley Post and we'd like to thank all of you for continuing to "follow the conversation" here at Hudson Valley Post.

It's been an interesting year in the local area, full of tragic murders, presidential hopefuls, fires, crashes and tales to warm the heart. Here are the stories we felt had the most impact on the Hudson Valley in 2016.

 
Opioid Epidemic in the Hudson Valley
 

The Hudson Valley hasn't been immune to the heroin epidemic that has swept the nation in recent years.

If it wasn't for the actions of local police officers, equipped with Narcan -- medicine that is proven to reverse the effects of a heroin overdose -- many Hudson Valley residents would have lost their lives.

• Town of Lloyd Police saved a 26-year-old from Clintondale who was overdosing after a car crash.
• East Fishkill Police used Narcan to save a 37-year-old and a 59-year-old. 
• Police from the Village of Wappingers Falls revived a 23-year-old female
• The Orange County Sherriff's Office saved a 21-year-old man in the Town of Greenville and a 24-year-old female in Middletown. 
• It took Dover Police four doses of Narcan to revive a 29-year-old man.
• Ramapo Police used 3 doses to save a 28-year-old man 
• Town of Wallkill Police revived a 31-year-old from Monroe in a Super 8 bathroom and a 33-year-old from Warwick in a Walmart bathroom. 
• Ellenville Police sergeant Robert Morse and officer Tyler Swinden are credited with saving a 47-year-old. 
• Ellenville police officer Richard Jacobs was hailed for saving at least eight people's lives in 2016 from heroin overdoses.