Senate Proposes Largest Ever State Commitment To Prevent Heroin And Opioid Abuse

The New York State Senate Majority today unveiled details of their extensive response to the challenges facing communities in the fight against opioids and heroin. As part of the Senate’s 2018-19 Budget proposal to be taken up tomorrow, the conference commits to providing a record level of state funding to combat opioid abuse and will propose far-reaching health and safety initiatives to reduce the harmful effects of drug abuse on everyone from infants to adults. 

Senator Kemp Hannon said, “The opioid epidemic continues to have a devastating effect for all communities in New York, which is why we have been working for several years to reform prescribing practices, educate prescribers, and ensure people have access to treatment.  The Senate’s opioid package invests more money, continues to build on our accomplishments and makes additional investments in prevention, treatment and recovery.  I commend my Senate colleagues who lead the Task Force and their continued efforts to combat this crisis.”

Senator Chris Jacobs said, “This record $265 million in funding reinforces the Senate Majority’s commitment to eradicating the heroin and opioid abuse epidemic in New York State. Based on what we learned in hearings all across the state, these resources are very strategically targeted where they will have the greatest impact in this fight - prevention, treatment and recovery, and giving law enforcement the necessary tools to stem the flow of illegal substances.”

Senator George Amedore said, “With a record level of funding and measures to increase prevention and improve access to treatment and recovery services, the Senate continues to lead the way in addressing the addiction issues that plague every community throughout the state. The Task Force held a series of productive meetings throughout the state that helped us to identify where gaps remain in the system and what steps we should be taking next. This package builds on the investment and policies that have been enacted in order to continue to help and support those who are struggling with addiction.”

Senator Fred Akshar said, “From my 15 years in law enforcement and traveling the state with my fellow Heroin and Opioid Addiction Task Force Co-chairs, it’s clear that the only way we can be successful in this fight against addiction is by taking a multi-faceted approach that incorporates prevention, education, treatment, recovery and enforcement. The measures included in the Senate's budget proposal reflect our bottom-up approach, where we met with stakeholders at the ground level to identify needs and produce tangible results. I urge our colleagues in the Assembly and the Executive Branch to join us in these measures, because the heroin and opioid addiction scourge is bigger than any partisan or political differences. It takes all of us working together to provide relief and hope for families struggling with addiction in communities across our great state.”

The Senate’s Joint Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Addiction, led by Co-chairs Jacobs, Amedore, and Akshar, has been holding forums throughout the state, most recently in Binghamton, Pleasantville, and Hudson. These events, legislative budget hearings, and ongoing outreach by Senator Hannon as Health Committee Chair have provided the opportunity to solicit input from stakeholders involved in the ongoing epidemic. Health care providers, law enforcement, educators, and family members helped the Senate formulate additional steps that need to be taken. 

The Senate proposal increases the state’s support for opioid use disorder-related services to a new record of $265 million - going beyond the 2018-19 Executive Budget proposal of $228 million. 

In addition, the Senate will propose measures to reduce exposure to opioids for children and adults; limit and provide alternatives to opioid use; better define controlled substances to include deadly drugs like fentanyl; screen expectant mothers to prevent and treat addiction in infants; encourage the successful recovery for those struggling with addiction; and provide law enforcement with new tools to help get drugs and dealers off the streets. They include:

Supporting Prevention

• Enact the Drug Take Back Act to get unused and unneeded medications out of medicine cabinets.
• Ensure labels on opioid prescriptions warn of the highly addictive potential of controlled substance medications.
• Reform prescribing practices to:
  • Limit initial prescriptions from a seven-day to a three-day supply; 
  • Require patients prescribed opioids for thirty-days or longer to have a pain management plan with their prescriber; 
  • Require written consent from parents or guardians for the prescription of opioids to minors;
  • Require the Department of Health to develop guidance on the administration of opioid antagonists; and 
  • Establish a demonstration program to reduce opioid prescribing by utilizing emergency department physician collaboration to control pain through alternative means, including non-opioid medications.  

Expanding Treatment

• Authorize the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse (OASAS) to provide funding to substance use disorder programs operated by for-profit agencies.
• Establish a jail-based substance use disorder treatment program. 
• Require testing of newborns for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome.
• Establish a program on screening expectant mothers for opioid addiction and linking them with care. 
• Establish a workgroup and provide education for healthcare providers on screening and caring for mothers with an opioid addiction. 
• Prohibit prior authorization for outpatient substance abuse treatment.
• Establish an OASAS ombudsman to assist consumers and providers with insurance issues, including network adequacy.
• Require hospitals and Emergency Room physicians to notify a patient’s prescriber that the patient has been treated for a controlled substance overdose.

Encouraging Recovery

• Establish a voluntary certification process for sober homes.
• Codify the Peer Engagement Program, connecting individuals with substance use disorders to treatment and recovery services.
• Establish an infant recovery pilot program with at least four infant recovery centers in areas of need for infants suffering from drug withdrawal resulting from in utero exposure.
• Establish the Family Support and Recovery Services Program to provide recovery services and support to individuals exiting treatment and their families for up to 12 months after leaving a treatment program.

Enhancing Enforcement

• Criminalize the sale of a controlled substance on the grounds of a drug or alcohol treatment center, or within 1,000 feet of such facilities.
• Make it a crime to offer or accept any kickback from an individual or entity that provides substance abuse services in exchange for patient referral and admission.
• Establishes appropriate level penalties as it relates to heroin sales. 
• Makes the sale of 2 milligrams or more of Carfentanil a Class A-II felony and the sale of 10 milligrams or more of Carfentanil a Class A-I felony.
• Update controlled substances penalties to reflect emerging issues.

Addressing Fentanyl and other Synthetic Drugs

• Update the controlled substances schedule to promote consistency with the federal controlled substances schedules.
• Add new derivatives of fentanyl to the controlled substances schedule.
• Increase the criminal penalties for the sale of an opiate containing a fentanyl derivative.

The Senate will take action on these measures on Wednesday, March 14, and continue to make addressing heroin and opioid abuse a priority during ongoing budget negotiations.