Senator Gallivan Announces Senate Approves Package of Bills to Combat Heroin & Dangerous Synthetics

Senator Patrick M. Gallivan (R-C-I, Elma) joined his Senate colleagues in approving a series of bills to eradicate the sale of heroin, K2 and other synthetic drugs.  The action comes as a new report, showed the cost of synthetic cannabinoid use on taxpayers was $22.7 million in 2015.

“The use of heroin and other synthetic cannabinoids is a public health crisis,” Gallivan said.  “No community is immune from the devastating impact of these drugs, which have destroyed too many lives.  We must hold those who manufacture and distribute these drugs responsible for their deadly actions.”

Among the legislation approved by the Senate:      

  •  S.2836C adds the current list of known synthetic cannabinoids to the Schedule I list and creates criminal penalties for possession and sale;

  •  S.4743 adds Alpha-PVP, known as “flakka” or “gravel,” to the public health law Schedule I of controlled substances;

  •  S.1640A amends the Controlled Substances Act to add to the Schedule any analogous drugs;

  •  S.6040A imposes civil penalties on businesses that sell synthetic cannabinoids. On the third violation, a business would lose its state licenses to sell lottery tickets, alcohol, cigarettes and tobacco products for five years; and

  •  S.6496 requires the Department of Health to  maintain an electronic database of known synthetic cannabinoids, listing their compounds, a description of products and their street names.

According to The State of Synthetics: A Review of the Synthetic Cannabinoid Drug Problem in New York & Solutions on Ending the Epidemic,  synthetic cannabinoid use cost New York State and its taxpayers $22.7 million in 2015 responding to the public health crisis.

Statewide over 6,800 people were hospitalized as a result of using K2 and 68 percent of those patients used Medicaid, resulting in over $1.1 million in payouts. Millions have been shelled out on new lab testing, hospital equipment, treatment and medication. A combined $3 million in city and state dollars were spent on public awareness campaigns.

Synthetic cannabinoid use also resulted in injuries of emergency medical technicians. On  nine separate occasions inmates using synthetic cannabinoids punched, kicked, and even bit corrections officers resulting in injuries.

The package of legislation now goes to the Assembly.

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