Senator Bonacic Continues Fight Against Illegal Drugs; Supports Legislation Combating Heroin , Opioid and Synthetic Drug Abuse

(Albany, NY)- State Senator John J. Bonacic (R/C/I-Mt. Hope) joined his colleagues this week in support of a package of bills that address the evolving challenges presented by fentanyl and synthetic drugs, and also help increase coordination among health care personnel to prevent future opioid overdoses and abuse. The package of bills build on the Senate Republican Conference’s continued commitment to combating the heroin and opioid epidemic.

The bills that were passed this week include:

• S933, adds new derivatives of fentanyl to the controlled substance schedule and increases criminal penalties for the sale of an opiate containing a fentanyl derivative;
• S300, would designate Xylazine as a controlled substance due to recent instances of this veterinary drug being used to lace heroin;
• S816, designates Alpha-PVP, also known as “Flakka” or “Gravel” as a controlled substance;
• S3518, classifies synthetic marijuana like K2, Spike 99, Spice, Yucatan Fire, Genie, Zohai and many others, as Schedule I controlled substances;
• S2722, bans the analog substances of scheduled controlled substances;
• S658, adds a new synthetic opiate, U-47700 and commonly referred to as "Pink" to the schedule I opiate list;
• S2639, requires hospital and emergency room physicians to notify a patient's prescriber when a patient is being treated for a controlled substance overdose; and
• S2248, helps facilitate the exchange of health care information with hospitals, office-based surgery practices, and health care providers who accept walk-in patients not regularly seen by the provider.

“The Senate Republican Conference has taken important steps to combat the heroin and opioid epidemic, and this package of bills builds on that work,” said Senator Bonacic. “I’m pleased to have supported these bills because I know they will have an impact in our communities.”

The bills have been sent to the Assembly.