Murphy announces additional task force hearings on heroin & opioid addiction

ALBANY, NY-- Senators Terrence Murphy, George Amedore  and Robert Ortt, co-Chairs of the Joint Senate Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Addiction, have announced a series of state-wide forums that will continue to examine the issues facing communities in the wake of increased heroin and opioid abuse. The forums will be held in Penn Yan, Oneonta, Brooklyn, and in Long Island. The forums will provide Task Force members with the opportunity to solicit input from stakeholders and experts and to use the information to develop recommendations for legislative action. 

"While we have made progress in New York's war on addiction we still have work to do.  Families across the state are still struggling to find adequate recovery options and more support is needed for our law enforcement agencies," Senator Murphy said. "These hearings will give us the opportunities to further explore what we need to do as a state to provide the necessary recovery options, advance education opportunities and pursue tougher laws to combat this deadly scourge."
       
"The best way to develop solutions to the heroin epidemic that is wreaking havoc throughout communities in New York is to hear first-hand from treatment providers, educators, medical personnel, law enforcement, and the families that have been impacted," Senator Amedore said. "These forums provide valuable insight into the most effective ways we can increase prevention, treatment and recovery options for those who need it most, and I look forward to joining my colleagues on the Task Force to continue our efforts to curb this epidemic." 

"The dangers of heroin and opioid abuse have spread to communities across our entire state, which is why it's critical for us to listen," said Senator Ortt  "We need to hear from individuals across the entire spectrum of this epidemic - law enforcement officials, addicts, family members, and experts in the treatment, insurance, and medical communities. This will allow us to continue our efforts to boost prevention and recovery while cracking down on drug dealers."
 
2016 Joint Senate Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Addiction Schedule 

Oneonta:
Tuesday, February 23, 12:00 pm: SUNY Oneonta, Hunt Union Ballroom, 108 Ravine Parkway, Oneonta, NY, 13820 

Penn Yan:
Tuesday, February 23, 6:30 pm: Penn Yan Middle School Auditorium, 515 Liberty Street, Penn Yan, NY 14527

Brooklyn:
Friday, February 26, 2 pm: Knights of Columbus, 1305 86th Street (Ground Floor), Brooklyn, NY 11228

Long Island:
Thursday, April 7, 12 pm: Bourne Mansion Auditorium, 500 Montauk Highway, Oakdale, NY 11769

Earlier this year the Task Force advanced an initiative (S.6516) to create a statewide narcan registry in order to track naloxone distribution, as well as usage and overdose reversals. In light of the recent decision by the Department of Health and CVS to make narcan available over-the-counter at nearly 500 CVS stores throughout the state, a statewide registry that includes the number of reversals and where they occurred will continue to provide important information in the efforts to help direct resources where they are needed most to help those that are struggling with addiction.