Senator Andrew Lanza Joins Governor Cuomo to Announce $750,000 in Annual Funding to Expand Addiction Treatment Services for Women on Staten Island

"Treatment is critical to fighting the opioid epidemic our Nation is facing. The much needed funding we are announcing today for Camelot of Staten Island will enable women, who have long been underserved, to acquire the quality treatment needed on their path to recovery. I want to thank Governor Cuomo and Lieutenant Governor Hochul for their commitment and for being strong allies to Staten Island in this fight. Thank you NYS OASAS Commissioner Gonzalez Sanchez for her partnership. Special thanks to all of our local service providers who are working hard every day to save lives especially, Luke Nasta and his team at Camelot for all of their efforts in developing this new treatment facility. I am proud to deliver results for Staten Island and remain committed to continue to work together to rid our community of the scourge of drug abuse and to restore good health to those battling addiction." Senator Lanza 

Camelot of Staten Island Will Develop 25-Bed Residential Facility Offering New Services Program for Women Feasibility Study to Guide Renovation Process and Allow Substance Abuse Program to Expand on Staten Island

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced a $750,000 investment to develop a new 25-bed residential treatment facility on Staten Island for women suffering from addiction. Camelot has been selected to run the program and will offer residential treatment programs once facility upgrades are complete. Camelot will receive up to $750,000 annually through the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services to support facility operations.

"Addiction is a disease and in order to stomp it out and provide a path to recovery, we need to continue to invest in and increase access to high quality treatment programs," Governor Cuomo said. "By expanding services on Staten Island, we are filling a critical need for women struggling with substance abuse, continuing our ongoing efforts to improve lifesaving services, and providing a healthier, better New York for all."

"Thanks to Governor Cuomo's leadership, New York has taken bold and aggressive action to tackle the substance abuse epidemic by expanding treatment services for those struggling with addiction," said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, co-chair of the Governor's task force to combat heroin and opioid addiction, who attended today's event. "With the funding announced today, Camelot of Staten Island will now be able to offer help to women in crisis in a supportive environment, and hope for a drug-free future."

Camelot will conduct a feasibility study, which will guide renovations necessary to update and lease the facility. Once renovations are complete, Camelot will offer assistance designed for women who lack access to safe residential opportunities with treatment for substance use disorder.

Services will include:

• Assessment, treatment, and recovery plan development training;
• Support on how to manage symptoms and behaviors associated with substance use disorders;
• One-on-one counseling; and
• Medication-assisted treatment when necessary.

There will also be gender-specific group programs focusing on topics such as trauma, domestic violence and parenting. The program will be located on the Seaview Hospital Campus at 460 Brielle Ave, on Staten Island.

"With the award of this funding, Governor Cuomo continues to show his commitment to making New York State a leader in the fight against addiction," OASAS Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez said. "This new program will allow us to serve the unique treatment needs of women in New York City, and help them on their road to recovery."

Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, said, "This desperately needed funding will help provide Staten Islanders with the treatment they need. Communities across the state are struggling to deal with impacts of the growing opioid epidemic, and I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues and the Administration to expand funding to the many underserved communities statewide."

Senator Andrew J. Lanza said, "Treatment is critical to fighting the opioid epidemic our Nation is facing. The much needed funding we are announcing today for Camelot of Staten Island will enable women, who have long been underserved, to acquire the quality treatment needed on their path to recovery. I want to thank Governor Cuomo and Lieutenant Governor Hochul for their commitment and for being strong allies to Staten Island in this fight. Thank you NYS OASAS Commissioner Gonzalez Sanchez for her partnership. Special thanks to all of our local service providers who are working hard every day to save lives especially, Luke Nasta and his team at Camelot for all of their efforts in developing this new treatment facility. I am proud to deliver results for Staten Island and remain committed to continue to work together to rid our community of the scourge of drug abuse and to restore good health to those battling addiction."

Senator Diane Savino said, "I want to thank Governor Cuomo for his continued commitment to ending the heroin epidemic on Staten Island. This borough has unfortunately been the focal point not only in New York State, but around the Country. These new services ensuring women have a safe place to receive the support needed is a testament to how serious we are as a State to helping those in need."

Assemblymember Michael Cusick said, "The Governor and my colleagues in the Legislature have made it clear that fighting the current opioid epidemic is a priority. Today we take another step in our fight; the investment in this new 25 bed residential treatment facility will offer the women of Staten Island greater opportunities to receive support and treatment for substance abuse."

Staten Island Borough President James S. Oddo said, "In the midst of the continuing opioid crisis, this is a glimmer of good news. Thank you to the Governor and OASAS for bringing these much needed treatment beds for women to Staten Island. We certainly need them. Camelot has been providing drug treatment services in our borough for more than forty years and changed countless lives for the better. This announcement means they will be able to help even more people."

Richmond County District Attorney Michael McMahon said, "The complete lack of inpatient treatment beds for women on Staten Island has long been a critical missing link in our fight against the drug epidemic, and I commend Governor Cuomo for stepping up to deliver this much needed resource to the women of Staten Island who are battling substance use illness. The ongoing support of Governor Cuomo and OASAS will be a major asset as we continue to battle this epidemic by taking down drug dealers, diverting those in need of treatment to recovery services, and by engaging the residents of Staten Island to join us in this fight."

New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state's toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369).

Available addiction treatment including crisis/detox, inpatient, community residence, or outpatient care can be found using the NYS OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard at FindAddictionTreatment.ny.gov or through the NYS OASAS website.

Visit CombatAddiction.ny.gov to learn more about the warning signs of addiction, review information on how to get help, and access resources on how to facilitate conversations with loved ones and communities about addiction. For tools to use in talking to a young person about preventing alcohol or drug use, visit the State's Talk2Prevent website.