Senator Larkin Supports Record Funding to Combat Heroin & Opioid Addiction

Albany, NY – Senator Bill Larkin (R-C-I, Cornwall-On-Hudson), a member of the New York State Senate Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Addiction, announced that record funding was included in the recently passed Senate budget proposal to address many of the proposals set forth by the Task Force to combat heroin and opioid addiction. 

“Our plan to combat heroin and opioid addiction has been advanced as part of the Senate budget proposal,” said Senator Bill Larkin.  “This plan will increase the state’s support for opioid use disorder-related services to a new record of $265 million.  It also includes far-reaching health and safety initiatives to reduce the harmful effects of drug abuse on everyone from infants to adults.”

“Senator Larkin has invited me to take part in several public hearings hosted by the Senate Task Force on Heroin and Opioid addiction,” said Orange County Sheriff Carl DuBois.  “As part of those hearings I personally testified to the challenges our communities face and the resources we would need to address this epidemic.  I am proud to say that through our joint effort, many of the problems we talked about addressing will be supported as part of the Senate budget proposal.”

The plan includes measures that will:

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;

Better insure a successful recovery for those struggling with addiction;

Provide law enforcement with new tools to help get drugs and dealers off the streets.

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