Behavioral Health Resources To Foster Resilience

The emotional toll from the mass shooting earlier this week in Orlando, Florida, continues to resonate both locally and nationwide. Following a tragedy of this magnitude, mental health support can make a substantial difference in beginning to heal a traumatized community. SAMHSA has tools and resources to support survivors, community members, responders, and behavioral health providers to foster recovery and resilience.

Resources for Survivors and Community Members

• Coping With Grief After Community Violence
• Tips for College Students: After a Disaster or Other Trauma
• Tips for College Students: After a Disaster or Other Trauma: R U A Survivor of a Disaster or Other Trauma?
• Tips for Talking With and Helping Children and Youth Cope After a Disaster or Traumatic Event: A Guide for Parents, Caregivers, and Teachers
• Tips for Survivors of a Disaster or Other Traumatic Event: Managing Stress

Resources for Responders and Behavioral Health Providers

• SAMHSA Behavioral Health Disaster Response Mobile App
• SAMHSA Disaster Kit
• Understanding Compassion Fatigue
• Preventing and Managing Stress
• Identifying Substance Misuse in the Responder Community
• Returning to Work
• Adjusting to Life at Home

For Immediate Release: 6/14/2016

GOVERNOR ANDREW M. CUOMO

State of New York | Executive Chamber
Andrew M. Cuomo | Governor
GOVERNOR CUOMO AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ANNOUNCE AGREEMENT TO COMBAT HEROIN AND OPIOID ABUSE IN NEW YORK STATE

Comprehensive Legislative Package Limits Opioid Prescriptions from 30 to 7 Days, Requires Mandatory Prescriber Education on Pain Management to Stem the Tide of Addiction, Eliminates Burdensome Insurance Barriers to Treatment

Expands Supports for New Yorkers in Recovery, Increases Treatment Beds by 270 and Expands Program Slots for Substance Use Disorder by 2,335 in New York

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Independent Democratic Conference Leader Jeffrey Klein today announced a final agreement on new legislation to combat heroin and prescription opioid abuse in New York State. The agreement comes on the heels of the recent release of the Governor’s Heroin and Opioid Task Force’s final report and recommendations. The legislation builds on the state’s aggressive efforts to better monitor prescription drugs, increase access to treatment, and break the cycle of heroin and opioid addiction in New York.

“New York and the nation as a whole is grappling with how to combat heroin and opioid addiction and, with this comprehensive plan, we are continuing to take decisive action to end this epidemic and protect our families and communities,” Governor Cuomo said. “This multi-faceted legislative package will increase access to treatment, expand prevention strategies, and save lives by helping ensure New Yorkers struggling with addiction have access to the services and resources they need to get well. I commend Majority Leader Flanagan, Speaker Heastie and Senator Klein for their deep dedication to addressing this issue, and I look forward to our continued work to protect the health and safety of all New Yorkers.”

Senate Majority Leader John J. Flanagan said, “Everyday lives are being lost and families destroyed by the scourge of heroin and opioid abuse. The Senate formed the Joint Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Addiction more than two years ago to fight this epidemic, and our good work has resulted in numerous laws being passed, $189 million allocated in the 2016-17 budget, and several of the recommendations recently issued by Co-Chairs Senators Terrence Murphy, Robert Ortt, and George Amedore being incorporated into this three-way agreement. I thank the Governor, Assembly Speaker Heastie, and especially the parents and families who have been personally touched by tragedy for working with us to prevent addiction, ensure treatment for those who need it, support people in their recovery, and bring hope to communities battling opioid abuse throughout New York.”

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said, “The Assembly Majority believes that supporting New Yorkers struggling with substance use is critically important. In some cases, families have fought for years to free their loved ones from the grips of addiction. The recent rise in opioid-related deaths has raised the alarm that no home or community is immune to tragedy. If we don’t act now, more families will have to carry the devastating burden of losing a loved one to drug addiction. For the sake of our children and families, it is imperative that we strengthen access to support and treatment services in every community and target resources to combat this epidemic in all its forms.”

Senate Independent Democratic Conference Leader Jeffrey Klein said, “Heroin and opioid addictions have ruined so many lives in every corner of this state. We all have come together to combat the scourge of heroin and opioids and to get those addicted the help they need. I especially want to thank Senator Carlucci for his leadership on promoting wraparound services to ensure that needs of those in recovery are meet to prevent relapses.”

The package of three bills includes wide-ranging initiatives to address the state’s current heroin and opioid crisis, including provisions to limit the over-prescription of opioids and remove barriers to access for inpatient treatment and medication. The legislation aims to address issues and concerns raised by individuals in recovery, families, and treatment providers across the state.

ELIMINATES BURDENSOME INSURANCE BARRIERS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO NEEDED ADDICTION TREATMENT

• Ends Prior Insurance Authorization to Allow for Immediate Access to Inpatient Treatment as Long as Such Treatment is Needed: People suffering from addiction who seek treatment need immediate access to services, but prior authorization requirements by insurance companies are often a roadblock to admission to inpatient programs. This legislation requires insurers to cover necessary inpatient services for the treatment of substance use disorders for as long as an individual needs them. In addition, the legislation establishes that utilization review by insurers can begin only after the first 14 days of treatment, ensuring that every patient receives at least two weeks of uninterrupted, covered care before the insurance company becomes involved.
• Ends Prior Insurance Authorization to Allow for Greater Access to Drug Treatment Medications: People seeking medication to manage withdrawal symptoms or maintain recovery must often request prior approval from their insurance company, which slows or stops the individual from getting needed medication. This legislation prohibits insurers from requiring prior approval for emergency supplies of these medications. Similar provisions will also apply to managed care providers treating individuals on Medicaid who seek access to buprenorphine and injectable naltrexone.
• Requires All Insurance Companies Use Objective State-Approved Criteria to Determine the Level of Care for Individuals Suffering from Substance Abuse: Insurance companies often use inconsistent criteria to determine the covered level of care for persons suffering from substance use disorder, which often creates barriers preventing these individuals from receiving care. This legislation will require all insurers operating in New York State to use objective, state-approved criteria when making coverage determinations for all substance use disorder treatment in order to make sure individuals get the treatment they need.
• Mandate Insurance Coverage for Opioid Overdose-Reversal Medication: Naloxone is a medication that revives an individual from a heroin or opioid overdose and has saved thousands of New Yorkers’ lives. To expand access to this life-saving medication, the new legislation requires insurance companies to cover the costs of naloxone when prescribed to a person who is addicted to opioids and to his/her family member/s on the same insurance plan.

TREATMENT ENHANCEMENTS

• Increase Evaluation for Individuals Incapacitated by Drugs from 48 to 72-Hours: Sometimes, individuals suffering from addiction are at risk for overdose and thus pose a threat to themselves. The legislation allows families to seek 72-hours of emergency treatment, an increase from the current 48-hours, for their loved one to stabilize and connect them to longer-term treatment options while also balancing individual rights of the incapacitated individuals.
• Require Hospitals to Provide Follow-Up Treatment Service Options to Individuals Upon Hospital Discharge: Hospitals play an important role in caring for individuals suffering from addiction who are often admitted to hospital emergency rooms after an overdose. This legislation requires hospital medical staff to provide discharge-planning services to connect patients who have or are at-risk for substance use disorder with nearby treatment options to provide continuous medical care.
• Allow More Trained Professionals to Administer Life-Saving Overdose-Reversal Medication:

Overdose-reversal medication such as naloxone saves lives. However, the law does not currently allow certain licensed professionals to administer this medication to individuals overdosing from heroin and opioids. To ensure that more people are able to help reverse overdoses, the new legislation authorizes trained professionals to administer naloxone in emergency situations without risk to their professional license.

• Expand Wraparound Services to Support Long-Term Recovery: Individuals leaving treatment are at great risk for relapse. To provide services during this critical period, the legislation extends the wraparound program launched in 2014 to provide services to individuals completing treatment including education and employment resources; legal services; social services; transportation assistance, childcare services; and peer support groups.

PREVENTION

• Reduce Prescription Limits for Opioids from 30-days to Seven Days: There is a well-established link between the rise in opioid prescriptions and the current heroin crisis. To reduce unnecessary access to opioids, the legislation lowers the limit for opioid prescriptions for acute pain from 30-days to no more than a 7-day supply, with exceptions for chronic pain and other conditions.
• Require Ongoing Education on Addiction & Pain Management for All Physicians and Prescribers: Physicians and other opioid prescribers are important partners in preventing addiction linked to abuse of prescription opioids. To ensure that prescribers understand the risks presented by prescription opioids, the legislation mandates that these health care professionals complete three hours of education every three years on addiction, pain management, and palliative care.
• Mandate Pharmacists Provide Easy to Understand Information on Risks Associated with Drug Addiction and Abuse: Consumers may not understand the addiction and abuse risks posed by prescription opioids. To improve consumer awareness about these risks the legislation requires pharmacists to provide educational materials to consumers about the risk of addiction, including information about local treatment services.
• Require Data Collection on Overdoses and Prescriptions to Assist the State in Providing Additional Protections to Combat this Epidemic: Current and accurate data is critical to combat the heroin and opioid crisis yet gaps currently exist in statewide data on overdoses and usage of opioid reversal medication. To fill that gap the legislation requires the State Commissioner of Health to report county-level data on opioid overdoses and usage of overdose-reversal medication on a quarterly basis.

Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul said, “As co-chair of the Governor’s Task Force, I have heard from parents, doctors and recovery experts who all spoke of the devastation and heartbreak this crisis has caused countless families and communities across our state. We have responded to the cries for help with bold action. This agreement acknowledges that the only way to save lives and stop this epidemic is with a comprehensive approach that includes limiting prescriptions at their source, removing barriers to treatment and expanding recovery options. I commend the Governor, Legislature and Task Force for taking this issue head on and making New York the national leader in solving this problem, which has plagued all of us for too long.”

NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez said, “We traveled the state and heard from New Yorkers about what they need to battle opioids and addiction. I am pleased and proud to say that this comprehensive package of legislation addresses the needs of New Yorkers battling addiction and positions New York’s substance use disorder care system as one of the strongest in the nation. I thank Governor Cuomo, Lieutenant Governor Hochul, Task Force members, the Senate and Assembly, and my dedicated team at OASAS, for their commitment to strengthening our addiction system of care and their hard work to enact a package of bills that will help New Yorkers overcome addiction now and into the future.”

ADDITIONAL INITIATIVES TO COMBAT ADDICTION

The 2016-2017 budget invests nearly $200 million through the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services to combat the heroin and opioid epidemic — an 82 percent increase in state spending since 2011. This investment includes $66 million for residential treatment beds, including counseling and support services for roughly 8,000 individuals; $38 million to fund medication-assisted treatment programs that serve approximately 12,000 clients in residential or outpatient settings; $25 million in funding for state-operated Addiction Treatment Centers; $24 million for outpatient services that provide group and individual counseling; and $8 million for crisis/detox programs to manage and treat withdrawal from heroin and opioids.

Today’s agreement also allocates funding to add 270 treatment beds and 2,335 opioid treatment program slots across the state to help New Yorkers suffering from substance use disorder and to expand vital treatment and recovery resources.

The agreement funds additional family support navigators across New York to assist substance users and their families locate and access treatment options and cope with addiction. The agreement will also expand the on-call peer program which partners individuals in recovery with people in hospitals suffering from substance use disorder to help connect these individuals to treatment and other resources upon discharge. The state is also increasing the number of Recovery Community and Outreach Centers and Adolescent Club Houses statewide to provide safe spaces for teens in recovery that deliver health and wellness services for teens and young adults.

The Governor’s Heroin and Opioid Task Force – comprised of a diverse coalition of experts in healthcare, drug policy, advocacy, education, and parents and New Yorkers in recovery – held executive meetings and eight listening sessions across the state – hearing directly from health care providers, family support groups, educators, law enforcement officials, and community members and gathering input that has influenced the initiatives announced today. The task force is co-chaired by Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul and New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez. The final report and recommendations can be found here. For more information, please visit: combatheroin.ny.gov.

Since 2014, Governor Cuomo has implemented a series of aggressive reforms to combat heroin and opioid addiction, including signing historic Combat Heroin Legislation that year; expanding insurance coverage for substance use disorder treatment; increasing access and enhancing treatment capacity across the state, including a major expansion of opioid treatment and recovery services; implementing the comprehensive I-STOP law to curb prescription drug abuse; and launching a public awareness and prevention campaign to inform New Yorkers about the dangers of heroin use and opioid misuse.

State Senator Terrence Murphy said, “Across New York and the nation, far too many lives are being lost due to heroin and opioid addiction. Combating this epidemic has been and remains a top priority of mine and this legislative package will help us save the lives of vulnerable New Yorkers by expanding access to treatment, removing insurance barriers and enhancing community prevention statewide. I was proud to be a member of the Governor’s Heroin Task Force, as well co-chairman of the Senate’s task force, both of which played a roles in seeing these reforms enacted. I commend Governor Cuomo, Lt. Governor Hochul, Commissioner González-Sánchez and everyone involved for putting the people of our state ahead of partisan politics.”

NYS Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said, “This agreement between Governor Cuomo and the State Legislature will help us battle the growing opioid and heroin epidemic and save countless lives. These measures will increase access to treatment for people trying to recover from addiction, and require physicians and patients alike to fully understand the potential dangers of opioid abuse.”

Maria T. Vullo, Acting Superintendent of Financial Services said, “The nationwide opioid epidemic requires bold and innovative action and this Administration is leading the way. The elimination of insurer prior approval for inpatient care and essential medications, along with the adoption of objective, state approved criteria to determine insurance coverage for necessary inpatient treatment will ensure that New Yorkers suffering from addiction, and their loved ones, will receive the assistance they desperately need. I am honored to have been part of the Opioid and Heroin Task Force and to contribute to the creation of this groundbreaking legislation.”

Susan Salomone, a Task Force member and Executive Director of Drug Crisis in our Backyard, said, “I thank Governor Cuomo and the State Legislature for agreeing to this important package of legislation. These groundbreaking initiatives will save lives and make recovery a possibility for many more families in New York.”

Anne Constantino, a Task Force member and CEO of Horizon Health Services, said, “I thank the governor for his leadership in prioritizing this important public health crisis. The changes represented in this package will go a long way in helping us to prevent serious addiction and to provide timely access to treatment and recovery support. These solutions are workable and will make an immediate impact. I am grateful for the courage of those who shared their personal stories, and for the commitment and compassion shown by all those that have advocated for lives to be saved.”

John Coppola, Executive Director of the NY Association of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Providers, said, “Governor Cuomo and the Senate and Assembly are acutely aware that the epidemic of overdose and addiction related to prescription opioids and heroin is a public health emergency. Their agreement on a legislative package to address this crisis provides impacted families and communities with hope.”

Patrice Wallace-Moore, CEO of Arms Acres, said, “As a person who works on the front lines of addiction treatment, I cannot thank Governor Cuomo and the Legislature enough for their actions. This package will have a significant and positive impact for those struggling with addiction and their families.”

New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state’s HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369). New Yorkers can find an OASAS-certified substance use disorder treatment provider by using the OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard. For help with accessing care and insurance coverage, visit the Access Treatment page on the OASAS website. To find a naloxone overdose reversal medication training near you, visit the OASAS opioid overdose prevention trainings page. Visit www.combatheroin.ny.gov for more information on addressing heroin and prescription opioid abuse, including a Kitchen Table Tool Kit to help start the conversation about the warning signs of addiction and where to get help. For additional tools to use in talking to a young person about preventing underage drinking or drug use, visit the State’s Talk2Prevent website.

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Additional news available at www.governor.ny.gov
New York State | Executive Chamber |press.office@exec.ny.gov | 518.474.8418

Utica, New York (June 2016) – On Thursday, June 9th, 2016, The Oneida County Heroin/Opiate Task Force and it partner agencies, will be holding a forum on Sports Injuries: “NO PAIN, NO GAIN”, Athletes, Injuries, and Narcotics. At 5:00, there will be a mixer with snacks and beverages and the public will have the opportunity to meet with local agencies where there will be free information and the ability to ask questions. At 5:30 the forum will begin and last until 6:30. The forum will be held at Mohawk Valley Community College (1101 Sherman Drive), Payne Hall Room 101. There will be a special focus on educating and bringing awareness to sports injuries and more holistic approaches to offer pain management than using opioids to control or “mask” the pain. This event is free and open to the public.

Jodi Warren, Prevention Coordinator of CFLR, Inc., and member of Oneida County’s Heroin/Opiate Task Force states, “This forum will provide information on how to manage pain in a more holistic way when an athlete sustains a sports injury rather then turning to a substance that could potentially lead to addiction. There is an epidemic amongst us with opiate and heroin use and athletes many times have their first experience with opiates when a sports injury occurs and sometimes can, and does lead to addiction. Being a former collegiate athlete and having two teens that have played sports for years I know all too well how competitive athletes are, and sometimes when a sports injury occurs the athlete will want to get back on the ice, field, court etc. way too soon. The athlete may use opiates as a means to mask the pain just to play, yet not thinking about the potential damage it can do with not only causing more injury but possibly starting a cycle of addiction. The consequences can be extremely harmful.”

The forum will have an opening speaker, Joshua Wright who was a former local athlete that endured sports injuries in high school which started his use of opiates and eventually lead to addiction of opioids/heroin. Now, in recovery Joshua wants to prevent and educate so that other athletes don’t go down the same path. There will also be other panelists as well; Adam Ellis (Chiropractor), Steve Nunno (Athletic Trainer), Tim Madden (Physical Therapist), Jodi Warren (Parent), Krysta Beha (Collegiate Athlete), Sgt. Terrance Gilbert (Coach).

For more information about the Forum, or if you are an agency that wants to have a table at the forum, please contact Jodi Warren, Prevention Coordinator, at (315) 768-2643 or jwarren@cflrinc.org.

NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES UNVEILS TALK2PREVENT CAMPAIGN REMINDING NEW YORKERS ABOUT THE DANGERS OF UNDERAGE AND BINGE DRINKING AND DRUG USE DURING PROM AND GRADUATION SEASON

Effort Urges Parents to Talk to Children about Health Risks, Risk for Addiction

The New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services today announced the launch of the latest phase of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s Talk2Prevent education campaign, an initiative focused on preventing underage and binge drinking and illicit drug use ahead of prom and graduation season. The statewide campaign includes a new radio public service announcement and digital ads urging parents to have regular discussions about alcohol and drug use and the importance of making a plan with their child on how to exit situations involving drinking or drug use.

“Graduation and prom are major milestones for students and their families, and they should be happy occasions,” said NYS OASAS Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez , who was at Riverhead High School in Riverhead, Long Island today to officially launch the Talk2Prevent campaign. “These celebrations can have lethal consequences if they involve alcohol or drugs. This campaign urges parents and guardians to have open, regular discussions, in advance of these milestone events, so that our young people know just how dangerous these substances can be and they can do their part to keep themselves and their friends safe during this time of year.”

The new Talk2Prevent Radio PSA will also play on Spanish radio stations. The campaign also includes coffee sleeves that remind parents and adults to talk with teens about underage drinking and substance use. These will be distributed at select coffee shops in areas with high admission rates for young people seeking alcohol addiction treatment. Placemats with the same message will be displayed at select restaurants in those same areas. Posters that say, “The way you talk to your child becomes their inner voice” and that “alcohol and drugs have no place in a healthy childhood,” are available on the Talk2Prevent website for downloading and use in schools and communities.

The Talk2Prevent website also includes 10 examples of effective pre-prom and graduation prevention strategies that local schools and communities have used to help keep young people alcohol- and drug-free at these events. On the website, prevention providers and schools around the state share the creative and unique drug and alcohol prevention strategies that can be replicated at other schools and in other communities. Riverhead High School’s pre-prom activities, including busing students to the prom and hosting a red carpet picture taking event, were held up at the event today as great examples of community involvement in keeping kids safe.

The Talk2Prevent campaign aims to help to reverse the following statistics:

• 75 percent of high school seniors in New York State have used alcohol. _{(OASAS Youth Development Survey 2014-15 Report)}
• 24 percent of high school juniors and seniors engaged in binge drinking during the past 2 weeks _{(OASAS Youth Development Survey 2014-15 Report)}
• One in 10 teens say they have driven under the influence of alcohol during the summer. _{(Liberty Mutual/SADD, 2013)}
• 22 percent of 7^th – 12^th graders have smoked marijuana. _{(OASAS Youth Development Survey 2014-15 Report)}
• 5 percent of students in grades 7^th – 12^th have used a prescription pain reliever non-medically. _{(OASAS Youth Development Survey 2014-15 Report)}

OASAS, DMV and the State Liquor Authority, as members of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, continue to spearhead several initiatives at the Governor’s direction to deter underage drinking and keep New York’s roadways safe, namely through DMV’s “No Empty Chair” campaign and SLA’s “No Excuses” campaign.

Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Executive Deputy Commissioner and Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee Acting Chair Terri Egan said, “While it is important year round to urge all New Yorkers to drive free of impairment by drugs or alcohol, it is especially critical to raise awareness among teens during prom and graduation season. If not careful, an exciting time in their lives can be quickly ruined by one bad decision. We work each day to prevent impaired driving and underage drinking, and through our Operation Prevent initiative, we deter the use of fake IDs to purchase alcohol. Keeping New Yorkers safe is our top priority, which is why we are happy to partner with OASAS on this important campaign.”

“As underage drinking far too often results in tragic outcomes, there is no more important priority for the State Liquor Authority than preventing the sale of alcohol to minors,” said SLA Chairman Vincent Bradley. “New York State agencies are committed to working collaboratively to prevent and reduce underage alcohol use by conducting aggressive enforcement actions, offering educational opportunities, and launching proactive campaigns like Talk2prevent targeting parents who exercise significant influence over their children’s decisions.”

New Yorkers can find help for addiction 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 (467369). New Yorkers can find an OASAS-certified substance use disorder treatment provider any time by using the OASAS Bed Availability Dashboard. For help accessing care and insurance coverage, New Yorkers can visit the Access Treatment page on the OASAS website. The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee’s Younger Driver Tool Kit offers additional tips for keeping young people safe while behind the wheel.

Press Release: http://www.oasas.ny.gov/pio/press/050916T2PPhase3.cfm

 

 

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Collaborative Effort Charged with Developing Comprehensive Plan to End Heroin and Opioid Addiction in NYS
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the launch of a statewide heroin task force charged with ending the heroin and opioid crisis in New York. The group, comprised of a broad coalition of experts in healthcare, drug policy, advocacy, education, and parents and New Yorkers in recovery, will build on the state’s previous efforts and use their expertise and experience to develop a comprehensive action plan to combat the state’s opioid epidemic. Members of the task force will hold public listening sessions across New York to inform their recommendations.

“Opioid addiction is a national epidemic that continues to plague families in communities across New York – and the state has been taking aggressive action to tackle this crisis head on,” Governor Cuomo said. “The Heroin Task Force will take these efforts to the next level with a comprehensive action plan developed by a diverse coalition of experts. We will use the task force’s recommendations to implement smart solutions that will protect public health, enhance safety in communities statewide and save the lives of vulnerable New Yorkers.”

“Heroin and opioid deaths in New York State have reached unconscionable levels,” Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, Co-Chair of the Heroin Task Force said. “On behalf of the families all across New York whose lives have been shattered by this crisis, I’m honored to lead the fight against it. We will leave no stone unturned in our quest to find ways to not only prevent, but also break the cycle of addiction that has destroyed so many lives in our state.”

Since 2014, Governor Cuomo has implemented a series of aggressive reforms to combat heroin and opioid addiction, including signing the historic Combat Heroin Legislation; expanding insurance coverage for substance use disorder treatment; increasing access and enhancing treatment capacity across the state, including a major expansion of opioid treatment services; implementing new and expanded recovery services; and launching a public awareness and prevention campaign to inform New Yorkers about the dangers of opioid use.

In March, new regulations took effect that require all prescriptions to be transmitted electronically from the prescriber directly to the pharmacy. The measure is part of New York’s comprehensive I-STOP law, first implemented in 2012, designed to curb prescription drug abuse across the state.

Through I-STOP, New York requires prescribers to consult the Prescription Monitoring Program Registry when writing prescriptions for Schedule II, III, and IV controlled substances. The Registry provides practitioners with direct, secure access to view dispensed controlled substance prescription histories for patients in real time. The data is further used to identify potential sources of prescription drug diversion or abuse, including prescription fraud. In April, the state began sharing Prescription Monitoring Program data with New Jersey to further prevent the stockpiling and resale of dangerous controlled substances.

As of 2015, I-STOP has led to a 90 percent decrease in the number of “doctor shoppers” or patients who visit multiple prescribers and pharmacies to obtain controlled substances within a three-month time period.

As overdose is now the leading cause of accidental death in New York, the state has also led an aggressive effort to make naloxone available without a prescription at approved pharmacies. In March, the state DOH, in collaboration with the Harm Reduction Coalition, issued standing medical orders to the more than 750 independent pharmacies outside New York City, allowing these pharmacists to dispense naloxone without a prescription. The action built on the Governor’s agreement with CVS and Walgreens/Duane Reade in January 2016, enabling more than 900 of these pharmacies to make naloxone available without a prescription statewide.

To date, New York has trained thousands of first responders and community members to recognize and respond to overdoses. Since 2006, the state’s community overdose prevention and naloxone distribution program has enrolled more than 225 registered programs, which have trained more than 112,000 individuals. As a result, more than 3,500 overdose reversals have been documented, with over 1,500 lives saved in 2015 alone. A total of 8,424 law enforcement officials have been trained to administer naloxone through these efforts, including 2,639 instructors.

Now, the Heroin Task Force will build upon the state’s previous efforts and develop a comprehensive statewide plan to break the cycle of opioid addiction in New York. Specifically, the Task Force will identify ways to expand awareness of heroin and opioid addiction; enhance statewide prevention efforts; increase access to treatment; and improve support for those in recovery. For more information, please visit: http://combatheroin.ny.gov/.

Members of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s Heroin Task Force include:

• Kathy Hochul, Lieutenant Governor, co-chair
• Arlene Gonzalez-Sanchez, NYS OASAS Commissioner, co-chair
• Maria Vullo, Acting NYS DFS Superintendent
• Dr. Howard Zucker, NYS DOH Commissioner
• Joshua Vinciguerra, NYS DOH, Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement Director
• Michael Green, NYS DCJS Executive Commissioner
• Lt. Colonel Frank Kohler, Lead on Heroin/Opioids, NYS State Police
• Tino Hernandez, President, Samaritan Village
• Daniel Raymond, Policy Director, Harm Reduction Coalition
• Charles Brack, Peer/Family Support Specialist, United Healthcare
• Patrice Wallace-Moore, CEO of Arms Acres
• Michael McMahon, Richmond County District Attorney
• Adrienne Abbate, Executive Director, SI partnership for Community Wellness
• Kym Laube, Executive Director, Human Understanding & Growth Services
• Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds, President and CEO of Family and Children’s Association
• Anne Constantino, CEO of Horizon Health Services
• Cortney Lovell, Director, Wrise Consulting
• Susan Salomone, Executive Director of Drug Crisis in Our Backyard
• Patrick Seche, Director of Services, Addiction Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center
• Jerald Woolfork, VP for Student Affairs at SUNY Oswego
• Tom O’Brien, Roxbury Schools Superintendent
• Terrence Murphy, NYS Senate
• Linda Rosenthal, NYS Assembly

NYS OASAS Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez said, “New Yorkers battling addiction need to know we are here with open arms to help them – to access treatment and support their recovery. I thank the Governor for his continued leadership in appointing this task force. I believe that their work will add to our efforts to attack this epidemic.”

NYS Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said, “Opioid addiction has become a national crisis that is destroying lives and tearing families apart. Governor Cuomo has dedicated substantial resources to addressing this crisis and helping addicted New Yorkers get the assistance they need. His latest action – creation of the statewide task force – will allow us to develop a comprehensive plan to help those who are addicted and prevent others from going down that path.”

Maria T. Vullo, Acting Superintendent of Financial Services said, “Substance addiction devastates families across New York State. As a member of Governor Cuomo’s statewide heroin task force, I will work with health insurers and other stakeholders to devise educational programs focused on prevention, as well as implement aggressive reforms to ensure that affected New Yorkers receive access to the recovery and support services they need.”

Senator Terence Murphy said, “Heroin and prescription drug abuse has claimed far too many lives in New York and across the country. It’s time we put a stop to this epidemic and prevent more needless tragedies from occurring. Launching this task force is the right move, and I look forward to joining Governor Cuomo’s efforts to fight dangerous opioid abuse in New York State.”

Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal said, “The opioid epidemic is hurting New York’s children and families – and the state must continue to advance its efforts to combat this epidemic. I am proud to join the Heroin Task Force and commend Governor Cuomo for his continued leadership on this critical issue. Through these coordinated efforts, we will be able to connect more New Yorkers with vital treatment and support services, and increase prevention strategies in communities statewide.”

Richmond County District Attorney Michael McMahon said, “The heroin and prescription drug crisis is stealing the lives of Staten Islanders every other day, just as it is crippling communities across New York State and across the country. Confronting this epidemic is the challenge of a generation, and while the challenge is daunting, it is one we must address and that we can solve together if given the tools and resources to get the job done. I want to thank the Governor for bringing this task force together and for his commitment to this important issue.”

Cortney Lovell, Director, Wrise Consulting, said, “I applaud Governor Cuomo for appointing this task force and his continued leadership in combatting the opioid epidemic. We need to work together to tackle this crisis head on and advance solutions that will make a difference in the lives of New Yorkers struggling with addiction. As a person in long term recovery, I am proud to be a part of this effort and I look forward to helping more New Yorkers find and experience the joy of recovery.”

Anne Constantino, CEO of Horizon Health Services, said, “I thank the Governor for his continued leadership in creating this task force. This is a nationwide epidemic and we must take action to ensure New Yorkers have access to the help they need and deserve. I am proud the Task Force will build on the Governor’s good work over the last few years, and I look forward to finding ways to further expand and enhance addiction treatment services in New York.”

Susan Salomone, Executive Director of Drug Crisis in Our Backyard and a parent who lost her son to opioid use, said, “I am honored to be a part of this important work and commend Governor Cuomo for leading the way in combatting this epidemic. As parent who has been impacted by addiction, it is my hope that the Task Force will provide New Yorkers with a roadmap to overcome substance abuse and help those in recovery lead long, healthy and happy lives. I look forward to working together to create a long-term plan that will help protect New York’s children and families.”

Over the past decade, admissions for heroin and prescription opioid-abuse treatment in New York have increased 40 percent. In Upstate New York and on Long Island, admissions for opioid and heroin addiction have increased 94 and 117 percent respectively. Moreover, heroin admissions to OASAS addiction treatment programs have risen 35 percent between 2006 and 2015. Five percent of students in grades seven through twelve have reported using a prescription pain reliever non-medically.

New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the State’s HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369). New Yorkers can find an OASAS-certified substance use disorder treatment provider any time by using the OASAS Bed Availability Dashboard. For help with accessing care and insurance coverage, visit the Access Treatment page on the OASAS website.

To find a naloxone overdose reversal medication training near you, visit the OASAS Addiction Treatment Center opioid overdose prevention trainings page. Visitwww.combatheroin.ny.gov for more information on addressing heroin and prescription opioid abuse, including a Kitchen Table Tool Kit to help start the conversation about the warning signs of addiction and where to get help. For additional tools to use in talking to a young person about preventing underage drinking or drug use, visit the State’s Talk2Prevent website.

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Additional news available at www.governor.ny.gov
New York State | Executive Chamber |press.office@exec.ny.gov | 518.474.8418