Assemblyman Al Stirpe (D-Cicero) announced the passage of a series of measures aimed at combating the growing heroin and opioid epidemic that has devastated communities across New York State.

“Often times the treatment provided to victims of addiction is simply not enough to break the cycle of drug dependency,” said Stirpe. “Each one of these efforts will help our communities address this crisis by providing our loved ones with the necessary resources needed to move forward.”

The measures expand the number of licensed professionals who can administer Narcan – a drug which counteracts an opioid overdose – in an emergency, require the state to issue quarterly reports on overdoses and Narcan use, and require hospitals to implement discharge planning for patients who have a substance use disorder. Furthermore, the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) will be required to extend the heroin and opioid addiction wraparound services program for an additional two years as well as implement best practices for these services. Additionally, these measures will expand access to addiction treatment by increasing the maximum time an individual incapacitated by drugs or alcohol can be involuntarily held from 48 to 72 hours and requires discharge planning, ensuring the patient gets proper treatment (A.10725, A.10726).

The legislation also mandates an additional three hours of education on pain management and palliative care for prescribers as well as requires pharmacists to educate consumers when they are dispensing a controlled substance. It also sets a seven-day limit on a patient’s first prescription of opioid medication for acute pain and requires insurance companies to provide coverage for a minimum 14-day inpatient treatment without prior authorization (A.10727).

“These measures are just a few of the necessary steps needed to address the growing concerns of drug addiction in our communities,” said Stirpe. “I will continue to fight for all the families, who had the courage to share their stories of loss, so that no one else has to lose a loved one to addiction.”