"According to President Trump’s latest draft budget proposal, there are plans to eliminate a $56 million annual grant program that provides Narcan and training on how to administer this highly effective opioid reversal agent to emergency responders across the country. As Chair of the Assembly Committee on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, I find Health and Human Services Secretary Kennedy’s decision to eliminate the Narcan program incredibly wrongheaded.

Mr. Kennedy has publicly acknowledged his own struggle with heroin addiction. He came from a wealthy family, which I am sure supported his recovery efforts. Very few New Yorkers are in that position. Narcan has a long, innovative, and positive history of reviving individuals in the midst of an overdose, giving them a chance at recovery. Unfortunately, this program is one of many grants eliminated in the budget proposal that are critical to addiction prevention and treatment.

As Narcan has become more widely available in recent years, opioid-related deaths have declined. The decision to eliminate funding for the Narcan grant program will likely reverse this progress. Secretary Kennedy has demonstrated that he is not competent to serve in the position to which President Trump appointed him."

- Assemblymember Phil Steck, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse