Assemblyman Stirpe: New Laws Will Help Combat Opioid Crisis
During the first week of October, New York Attorney General Letitia James began a statewide tour of New York to present 10 regions of the state with funds secured from settlements with various pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors that contributed heavily to New York’s opioid crisis. A total of $1.5 billion was raised from the settlements, which will be distributed to all 62 counties of New York State. Thanks to a law I helped pass, these funds will only be used to cover eligible expenditures, such as substance use disorder prevention, treatment and recovery programs and public education campaigns to combat the opioid epidemic (Ch. 190 of 2021).
While this is an encouraging step in our fight against the opioid epidemic, the struggle is far from over. The COVID-19 pandemic increased rates of substance abuse and further highlighted the hold this crisis has over New York State. Last year was the worst for overdoses on record in our state. Over 5,000 New Yorkers died of overdoses in 2020 alone, and nationally, there was a 29% increase in drug overdose deaths from 2019.[1]
In order to combat this ongoing crisis, I helped pass numerous pieces of legislation aimed at helping those who suffer from substance use disorders. One measure would prohibit opioid antagonists, such as naloxone, from being used as court evidence to prove possession of controlled substances (Ch. 431 of 2021). Physicians, members of law enforcement and drug policy experts have all cited the importance of opioid antagonists in preventing opioid-related overdose deaths, and their possession should not be discouraged for those who need it most. Another law expands the accessibility of treatment diversion for substance use to nonviolent drug offenders, which will allow these individuals to receive court-ordered treatment (Ch. 435 of 2021).
To combat fatal overdoses and the spread of infectious diseases, I also helped pass laws establishing an online directory for distributors of opioid antagonists (Ch. 434 of 2021) and decriminalizing the possession and sale of hypodermic needles (Ch. 433 of 2021). Diseases such as hepatitis C and HIV are commonly spread with unhygienic hypodermic needles used to inject drugs, leading to additional deaths among substance users. Allowing pharmacies to provide clean hypodermic needles will decrease the spread of these diseases, and providing easy access to opioid antagonist distributors will help decrease the number of overdose deaths.
I also helped pass a law to assist incarcerated individuals suffering from substance use disorders by establishing a medication-assisted treatment (MAT) program in state correctional facilities (Ch. 432 of 2021). Over half of incarcerated New Yorkers suffer from substance use disorders, but many correctional facilities have not yet implemented MAT programs. Additionally, the 2021-2022 state budget included $32 million to support MAT programs as well as other opioid use treatment and prevention programs.
The road to overcoming this tragic epidemic has been a long and difficult one, and unfortunately, it is still ongoing. The COVID-19 pandemic has only added to our struggles. However, I’ll continue pushing for legislation to help stop the proliferation of opioids and help those suffering from substance use disorders. If you have any questions regarding the opioid crisis or any other community issue, please feel free to contact my office at 315-452-1115 or StirpeA@nyassembly.gov.