Sen. Griffo: Oneida County Jail to receive funding for substance use disorder treatment, services

UTICA – State Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-I-C-Rome, announced today that the Oneida County Jail will receive $200,000 to fund substance use disorder treatment and transition services at the facility.

The funding is part of $3.75 million that the Senate Joint Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Addiction, of which Sen. Griffo is a member, advocated for and secured in the 2018-19 state budget. The total funding will be used to help implement support and expand vital services in county jails throughout the state.

County jails that offer treatment services have seen significant benefits, including decreased recidivism rates and cost savings. In Albany County, for instance, the SHARP (Sheriff’s Heroin Addiction Recovery Program) program has reduced re-incarceration by 28 percent for those who participated in the treatment program. 

"We should do all that we can to help those who have - or could be at risk for - a substance use disorder, including those individuals who may find themselves in jails across the state,” said Sen. Griffo. “By providing substance use disorder treatment and transition services in our local jails, we offer a better opportunity for those individuals to get help and to potentially save lives. I am hopeful that this funding will benefit those who may find themselves in a harmful situation due to substance use."

“One of the most difficult things that my office deals with is the opioid crisis,” said Oneida County Sheriff Rob Maciol. “We have countless inmates coming into the jail who are former and current users in need of treatment. Providing these services can be costly. I appreciate the Sen. Griffo’s efforts to help us get this funding, which will provide treatment and services to those who need it.”

“As we continue to attack the opioid crisis on multiple levels in Oneida County, this announcement adds to our arsenal,” said Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. “Treatment is a major component in the equation, and I thank Senator Griffo for his efforts to secure this funding that will provide much-needed services for the inmates at our county jail.”

###