The Kingfisher Project - Ten Years of Community Support in a Region Afflicted with Opioid Abuse
- erin carlson
- May 5, 2024
- 12 min read
Updated: May 10, 2024
BY Erin Carlson
LIBERTY — Bill Williams, current host of the Kingfisher Project, listens intently as Carol McDaid, former principal at Capitol Decisions Inc., details her experience policy making and her own past with addiction.
McDaid shared her story with Williams back in February over the radio at WJFF. She acknowledges her start in mental health and addiction policy wasn’t planned.
She provides Williams with the example of some charting out their future with an advisor of sorts to understand what comes next. Instead of knowing she was going to help individuals with mental health and addiction struggles, she “was one of those people [who succumbed to addiction] and no such plan was made,” said McDaid.
The host prompted his guest to walk listeners through her journey in the field and that is just what she does. Her voice is one of many that is being spread with the help of the Kingfisher project, a radio show made up of passionate individuals looking to educate the public on the issue of substance abuse.
“Grassroots organizations like this are the real hope we have for overcoming this crisis,” said Williams. Members produce community radio segments, gather and list useful resources and information, and aim to hold public systems accountable for the community served when crafting new bills and policies.
The show is aired once a month through the Radio Catskill station, also known as WJFF. The independent station speaks to Catskill locals. Available programs pertain to local and global news intending to inspire, advocate and inform community members on prevalent issues.
The project focuses on combating the opioid crisis in Sullivan County, honoring the life of Rebecca Pisall, a young woman who was killed because of her addiction. The program speaks to the unspoken from the world of substance abuse.
Shift of Leadership into Familiar Hands
The program’s outreach fell into the hands of Williams’ friend, who immediately suggested he check it out. He was then connected to Barbara and Kevin Greff, trustees of the organization. He began as a guest on Making Waves, an already existing show on WJFF, and was later asked by Barbara if he had been interested in hosting the Kingfisher Project.
Barbara and Julie had worked at the Western Sullivan Public Library-Jeffersonville Branch previously. She knew of Rebecca before she was even born, having seen off Julie for her maternity leave. Many years later is when Barbara would receive the horrendous news of the fate Rebecca met.
Barbara recounted that it took some time until the memorial service would be held at the Delaware Youth Center for Rebecca. It was then that she encountered Ogozalek at the service as he read Rebecca’s essay. The seed had been planted and both Barbara and Kevin knew that it needed to be read over the radio.
It wasn’t the end for this story while board members and trustees at WJFF sat down and decided there needed to be more than one show.
“Nobody said the word drugs. Nobody said the word addiction. Nobody said the words ‘shot in the head.’”
Next was determining future content. Ogozalek had already read the essay on Making Waves. Barbara mentioned the potential to speak on essays that held similar power, but there was one thing that still hadn’t been sitting right with her. “Nobody said the word drugs. Nobody said the word addiction. Nobody said the words ‘shot in the head,’” said Gref.
The first step to overcoming one’s own roadblock is coming to terms with its existence. “We made it okay to talk about it openly because we were on the air every week,” said Barbara.
Williams began hosting near the end of 2019 with his initial episode of “First Mondays with Bill Williams,” an interview with Senior Correspondent German Lopez at Vox.com. The pandemic halted the show until the following year, when Williams aired yet again in April 2021.
The host features a number of guests on his show, ranging from those who have beat their addiction to those trying to find ways to finally end the opioid problem in Sullivan. The relevancy of the subject and those intertwined remains at a large with the persisting epidemic.
Tim Bruno, general manager at WJFF, knew how important the project was when he came into this role. “It's a project that's been here for a little while. I was aware of not only that, but the need for a program like this because of the crisis of opioids in the county.”
Initially, he served as a volunteer and member of the board while working primarily in New York City. He then earned the title of assistant to the general manager, which swiftly changed to general manager stemming from the pandemic.
Williams had familiarity with spreading awareness on the issue prior to joining the project. The New York Times first published an article of his back in 2013, the year after his 24-year-old son, William, lost his life to addiction.
Ending the Secrecy of a Child’s Addiction is told from the perspective of the father as he deals with his son’s substance abuse and the stigma surrounding such. “How could we possibly explain the corrosion, in the midst of our well-reared, respectable family?”
A person who may have succumbed to addiction often fears coming forward with this truth, as there presently is a negative connotation around the subject. That same shame can be felt by their family or loved ones, as exemplified within Williams’ piece.
Erasing the stigma is one of the biggest factors necessary to ending the epidemic. “Educate people. Learn about the issue. Know it could be your own family. This is not a weakness,” said Ogozalek. As a teacher, he knows the importance of education in developing a more accurate portrayal of an issue such as this.
Why Here?
Sullivan County has the highest rate of overdose deaths involving any opioid, aside from New York City, as reported by the New York State Opioid Annual Report 2023. There were 37 deaths listed for a population of 79,806. The crude rate amounts to 46.4 deaths calculated out of a 100,000 population. The only county to surpass this number is the Bronx.
The county was listed at a much lower rate back in 2018: 16 deaths for a population of 74,801. This would make the rate per 100,000 population 24.1, less than half of what it is now. The crisis has gotten worse for the region over the past five years.
Fatalities aren’t even the surface of those afflicted by substance abuse. The New York State Opioid Data Dashboard reports an estimated 6.1 unique naloxone administrations by EMS agencies, measuring the crude rate per 1,000 unique 911 EMS dispatches.
The data is also listed with an indicator level that compares the most recent data with the previously reported numbers to determine a change. The indicator level stated no change.
The Stigma Presents a Struggle
In some cases, people who struggle with addiction may be looked down on. Although, how can one determine that one life has significant value over another?
That is the question Rebecca Pisall looked to investigate in one of her final pieces of writing. Rebecca’s life was taken far too soon in 2014 by a gunshot triggered by substance abuse. Before graduating in 2011, she had an essay assigned by her teacher, John Ogozalek, exploring her personal philosophy. Her story had been inspired by her firsthand account of a suffering bird.
She and her brother stumbled upon an injured Kingfisher. She knew the bird was in need of help, especially as some decided it necessary to throw rocks at the small creature, but hadn’t a clue how to assist.
Her mother, Julie Pisall, was taken aback. Onlookers were of little to no aid, aside from the terrifying advice to ‘put it out of its misery.’ The only option seemed to be returning the animal back to where he was found. Again, the bird faced an onslaught of rocks. Rebecca stepped in once more, but this time was different.
“And then, for the first time, I actually looked at him. I don’t mean I hadn’t looked at him before. I mean, this was the first time I felt like I actually saw him. When I looked at him, I could almost feel what he was going through, and I understood all the fear he was experiencing,” wrote Rebecca in her essay.
Her philosophy had been shaped around this experience. She deemed all life to be of equal value. Julie gave in, and the bird was placed in a rehabilitation center.
A life, often stigmatized as less valuable than a human’s, was saved from a little bit of help from a stranger. “If only people realized that they were not the most important creatures living on the Earth, I think the world would be a much better place,” concluded Rebecca within her writing.
That same mentality is what shaped the Kingfisher Project to be the organization it is to this day. The group was established the same year Rebecca had died as a way to honor her memory.
The Breakdown
There is an array of underlying factors that contribute to the amount of substance abuse in Sullivan. Williams explained that location is one of the largest contributors. The county is located right next to the intersection of two major highways; I-84 and I-87. The rural aspect comes into play for the residents in the region being a part of a large drug transport channel.
Multiple instances of drug trafficking have been detected traveling through the region. State troopers had even arrested a man, Fernando Rojas-Urena, convicted of such while traveling away from the Bronx. He was taken into custody on Feb. 5, 2024 and charged for Criminal Possession Controlled Substance 1st degree and Criminal Possession Controlled Substance 3rd Intent to Sell, according to the New York State Police.
COVID played another role in an increased rate of overdoses. “People started using more drugs in general during the pandemic,” said Darby Nagpaul. Nagpaul is an employee with the Sullivan County Public Health Department who is certified to train citizens on how to properly administer Narcan, otherwise known as Naloxone.
Her position deals with data centered around the training she provides such as their name, address, age, contact information and so forth. This helps when it comes to mapping out areas in greater need of training and supplying Narcan. The department became a Registered Opioid Overdose Prevention Program in 2014. The program calls for data gathering on the epidemic in Sullivan, training programs and the distribution and monitoring of Naloxone.
Employees with the department work to better their outreach on available programs through community led events as they are also part of the education department. Members have given demonstrations anywhere from schools to private one-on-one sessions.
Nagpaul, along with others, appeared at a local event to set up a table where members were able to distribute Narcan and educate those interested. She mentioned that tutorials can be as fast as five minutes when they need to be. Demonstrations can go on longer when time permits and can utilize greater tools such as presentations and statistics.
Events like these really help to reach individuals that may not even know the severity of the opioid crisis in their very own region. “Last month, I only did 11 training sessions, but we supplied 80 doses of Narcan,” said Nagpaul. Community based organizations also aim to spread awareness on these such happenings.
A Way to Get Involved
One of the main points the Kingfisher Project aims to push is that one needs to educate themselves on the opioid epidemic in their area and work to better it. They push for other groups that have the same goal as them and emphasize the surrounding resources available.
The Sullivan County Public Health Department is one such organization that provides many resources to individuals looking to deepen their knowledge on the opioid crisis and solutions such as the previously mentioned Narcan training. The medicine works to quickly reverse an opioid overdose, according to NIDA. It typically is given in the form of a nasal spray but can also be injected in some cases.
When taken, Narcan attaches to opioid receptors and blocks any effects from other opioids in the system. Naloxone can only restore breathing that has been lost due to opioid overdose. Some signs of overdose to look out for are as follows; unconsciousness, tiny pupils, shallow breathing, pale skin, limp limbs, vomiting, purple fingernails and lips, inability to speak and faint heartbeat.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) defines opioids as “highly addictive” with common overdoses and deaths. Opioids serve to relieve pain with a very relaxed feeling that can produce a high. Oftentimes, an individual that abuses opioids might have been prescribed the exact same drug at one point.
Another fear is if someone wishes to intervene and help an individual with substance abuse disorder, will they be penalized for involvement? Thankfully, the Good Samaritan Law was established in 1998 to protect the individual under the influence and the other calling to get help. The law protects from prosecutions of:
Possessing controlled substances up to and including A2 felony offenses (anything under 8 ounces);
Possessing alcohol, where underage drinking is involved;
Possessing marijuana (any quantity);
Possessing drug paraphernalia; and
Sharing drugs.
Substance abuse can happen suddenly and without ill intentions. Sullivan’s crime analyst, Judith Giampietro, is exploring this problem as reported by the River Reporter. One of the largest suppliers to the community are actually the doctors that are prescribing addictive pain medication as stated in the previously credited article.
Understanding is the First Step to Educating
The opioid epidemic began in the 1990s due to an increase in prescribing opioids according to the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention (CDC). After the first wave, each following wave is led by the newest drug. Heroin boosted the second wave and a rise in fentanyl use was cited in 2016 by the Drug Enforcement Administration(DEA). Victims of the crisis are in a position where they no longer have control of their drug abuse.
There is a face behind each statistic with their own unique story and in need of help. More lives will continue to be lost if those in need of saving are shamed. “Secret’s keep us sick. Now, it’s really just about encouraging people to come out, share their stories, and get help,” said John Liddle, commissioner of the Sullivan County Division of Health and Human Services.
Liddle is responsible for handling benefits given to struggling community members. A number of services are being provided through the division such as a food pantry, crisis intervention, court evaluations, group therapy and more. His position deals with overseeing who is receiving these benefits and if they are in compliance with drug and alcohol rules.
His title also comes with oversight of the county’s mental health department and public health department as well. These groups do a lot of work in prevention and treatment for individuals overcoming substance abuse disorders. There isn’t one department that only focuses on taking down the opioid crisis.
Agencies all over the county partner to gain a better understanding of the gravity of the situation and how to counter it. “Everybody comes together, and we really try to attack the problem of drug use from every possible angle that we can to help folks recover, prevent them from getting mixed up with drugs to begin with and just to promote safety in general,” said Liddle.
Another who is associated with the crisis through his employment would be Scott Curry, Disability Employment Initiative(DEI) Resource Coordinator for the Center for Workforce Development in Sullivan County. The data he looks into consists of not just the available resources, but the location of such in relation to the people in need. “People in the community are your best resource in identifying any systemic problem.”
Curry admits to the lack of resources in the area but claims that isn’t the focus of the issue at hand. The availability of resources isn’t the problem. The real dilemma is the transportation required to get to programs, events, healthcare facilities, etc.
In an attempt to visualize this idea, Curry explained how remote the county truly is. He gave the example of the distance from two cities of vastly different sizes. Livingston Manor, population 863 last reported in 2022, is 21.2 miles away from Monticello, population 7,285 last reported in 2022. Monticello is the location of the Sullivan County Government Center, which is where agencies like the Center for Workforce Development and the Division of Health and Human Services are housed.
The area is also known to have little public transportation available, so those in need may not have access. Sullivan is situated in the network of a major drug trafficking route with almost no transportation system leading towards help. The region was even named a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) designation as of July 2023.
Experts such as Curry acknowledge how important it is that the community be involved in reducing the stigma and ending the opioid epidemic. “There has to be collaboration and partnerships throughout communities in utilizing different funding streams, different resources, different techniques and knowledge.”
Organizations that deal with activism are only stronger together. It can be hard for one group to rise in membership due to the mostly volunteer aspect of the work. Collaborative effort can better target issues by sharing data and assets. There is a common goal for all involved that needs to be achieved to save countless lives.
“We have to keep going and get as many people help as we can. Let them know that there is hope for them,” said Julie.
Steps in the Right Direction
The impact left from better awareness is seen even in the simplest ways. Barbara’s grandson’s father, Carlos, heavily struggled with substance abuse disorder. He lost his life due to its implications. Although without the better education on the subject, he may have been gone sooner.
The family had Narcan in the house as they knew of its importance by being so well acquainted with the crisis and how to handle it from the Kingfisher Project. Carlos had overdosed about a year prior to his death, but was saved by the medicine he had been administered with its ready availability.
He had another year to spend with his son by the simple work of a family member dispensing the nasal spray.
Bruno put into perspective how connected these kinds of organizations are. While the Kingfisher Project is unique in its radio based activism, they “work with the county and some other stakeholders in the area, such as local hospitals to an organization called Sullivan 180, which is dedicated to turning around the county,” said Bruno. He recounts learning of each group’s work and how they all collectively help to put a stop to the crisis. Moments such as these tell the group how important their work is.
The Future
Sullivan continues to struggle in the fight against substance abuse. Statistics cited previously prove that there has been little to no change in the overall rate of overdose deaths to opioids in recent years.
That is when it is important to remember the stories behind the numbers. The start to solving an issue like this is to understand what and why is happening, which the Kingfisher Project will continuously push forward.
Bruno is looking to expand the program as he sees the value it has to listeners. He is often informed of times when listeners and donors appreciate how the group “tackles this head on and the awareness it creates.” Local county officials also have appreciation for another perspective provided to the community aside from just the government’s.
Statistics and numbers can’t tell the story of one’s life. The Kingfisher Project does and will continue to do such.
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