Senator Toby Stavisky Praises The Senate’s Passage Of Her Bill, To Help Reduce Opioid Abuse And Addiction Among New Yorkers

The new legislation requires physical and mental health professionals to complete training on signs of substance abuse, as part of their already existing continuing education requirements. These professionals deal with patients managing various degrees of pain, both internal and external. Training them on the warning signs of dependency and addiction will help identify possible problems before they happen, or before it’s too late.

The opioid crisis is an evolving nationwide epidemic that claimed nearly 3,300 lives in New York alone in 2018. Medical costs associated with overdoses and other treatments have placed a significant burden on the state. Educating those who work regularly with high risk individuals will cut down on that spending, saving millions of tax dollars.

The two hour training program will be required for nurses, psychologists, mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists and more.

 The bill, co-sponsored by Senator Anna Kaplan, passed the Senate 61-0.