New Legislative Package Takes Next Steps to Combat Heroin & Opioid Crisis

The heroin and opioid crisis has had a devastating impact on communities all across Western New York, leaving a trail of heartbroken families and individuals in its wake. 

Earlier this year, I successfully secured $214 million to strengthen prevention, treatment, recovery and education services. This unprecedented level of funding will provide law enforcement, health professionals and mental health experts with the tools they need to combat this crisis. These new tools will help to save lives. 

Last week, I voted to advance a new legislative package that takes the next steps to address drug abuse. The bills focus on strengthening enforcement to hold drug dealers more accountable, prohibit dangerous synthetic drugs and bolster protections for children.

In an effort to hold drug dealers more accountable, “Laree’s Law” (S2761) establishes the crime of homicide by sale of an opiate controlled substance. Under existing law, a person, who provides an illegal drug that causes the death of the user, is typically charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance, allowing drug dealers to escape prosecution for their actions.

A new measure (S1127) creates drug-free zones within 100 feet, and makes it a crime to sell a controlled substance, at drug and alcohol treatment centers. Drug dealers have been known to prey on individuals with addictions by waiting for patients to exit a treatment facility and to sell drugs to them.

The comprehensive legislation addresses the growth of the synthetic drug trade by improving the regulation of fentanyl (S5884). The bill adds six new derivatives of fentanyl to the Department of Health’s controlled substance schedule. Properly regulating this potent drug will help to prevent recent overdoses caused by fentanyl-combined drugs.

Another bill (S5357) also adds a synthetic opioid analgesic, also known as AH-7921, to the state’s schedule of controlled substances. This dangerous drug has been known to cause a psychoactive reaction. The legislation also conforms state controlled substances with federal schedules to better address the abuse and misuse of controlled substances.

Lastly, among the dozen new bills is an effort to address the increasing risk of children becoming addicted by limiting their exposure to opioids (S5959). The bill requires a doctor to obtain written consent from a minor’s parent or legal guardian before prescribing a medical treatment containing opioids and talking about the risks of addiction associated with the prescription. 

Stiffening penalties for drug dealers, stopping the flow of illegal substances and implementing proven methods of treatment for those in recovery are common sense approaches to combating this public health crisis.

As your State Senator, I will continue to work to develop real, lasting solutions that can provide hope, help break the cycle of addiction and end this epidemic.