S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
7654
I N S E N A T E
May 23, 2014
___________
Introduced by Sens. BOYLE, BALL, BONACIC, CARLUCCI, FELDER, GALLIVAN,
GOLDEN, GRIFFO, HANNON, LANZA, LARKIN, LITTLE, MARCELLINO, MARCHIONE,
MARTINS, MAZIARZ, NOZZOLIO, O'MARA, RANZENHOFER, RITCHIE, ROBACH,
SAVINO, SEWARD, VALESKY, YOUNG -- read twice and ordered printed, and
when printed to be committed to the Committee on Alcoholism and Drug
Abuse
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to establishing a
public awareness campaign on heroin and opioid addiction
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Legislative intent. The legislature hereby establishes a
public awareness and educational campaign to inform the public about
heroin and prescription opioid pain medication addiction. Heroin and
other opioids are highly addictive and as a result, a public health
crisis has emerged in New York State. This campaign will complement
existing programs administered by the Department of Health and the
Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services on prescription pain
medication awareness. The educational campaign will be statewide and
should be designed to alert youth, parents, high risk populations, and
the general population by providing educational materials on the
subjects to schools and community groups.
S 2. The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new section 19.26
to read as follows:
S 19.26 HEROIN AND PRESCRIPTION OPIOID PAIN MEDICATION ADDICTION AWARE-
NESS AND EDUCATION PROGRAM.
THE COMMISSIONER, IN COOPERATION WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPART-
MENT OF HEALTH, SHALL DEVELOP, ESTABLISH AND IMPLEMENT A PUBLIC AWARE-
NESS AND EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN ON HEROIN AND OPIOID ADDICTION.
(A) THE CAMPAIGN SHALL INCLUDE INFORMATION ON:
(I) THE DANGERS OF THE ABUSE OF HEROIN AND THE HIGH RISK OF ADDICTION;
(II) THE DANGERS OF MISUSE AND ABUSE OF OPIOIDS AND THE HIGH RISK OF
ADDICTION;
(III) HOW TO RECOGNIZE THE SIGNS OF ADDICTION FOR NON-MEDICAL PROFES-
SIONALS;
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
S LBD15079-04-4
S. 7654 2
(IV) THE PROMOTION OF THE OPIOID OVERDOSE PREVENTION PROGRAM, PURSUANT
TO SECTION THIRTY-THREE HUNDRED NINE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, AND THE
GOOD SAMARITAN LAW, PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 220.03 AND 220.78 OF THE PENAL
LAW AND SECTION 390.40 OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW; AND
(V) REDUCING THE STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH ADDICTION.
(B) THE CAMPAIGN SHALL INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS THROUGH THE USE OF
SOCIAL AND MASS MEDIA, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, INTERNET, RADIO,
AND PRINT ADVERTISING SUCH AS BILLBOARDS AND POSTERS. THE CAMPAIGN WILL
ALSO IDENTIFY AND RECRUIT INDIVIDUALS TO SERVE AS VISIBLE, PUBLIC AMBAS-
SADORS TO PROMOTE THIS MESSAGE. SUCH AMBASSADORS MAY INCLUDE PROFES-
SIONAL AND AMATEUR ATHLETES AND CELEBRITY ADVOCATES FROM MEDIA, MUSIC
AND OTHER ENTERTAINMENT MEDIUMS. THE CAMPAIGN SHALL INCLUDE AN INTERNET
WEBSITE PROVIDING INFORMATION FOR PARENTS, CHILDREN AND HEALTH CARE
PROFESSIONALS ON THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH TAKING OPIOIDS AND HEROIN AND
THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THOSE NEEDING ASSISTANCE WITH HEROIN OR
OPIOID ADDICTION. SUCH WEBSITE SHALL ALSO PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING
WHERE INDIVIDUALS MAY PROPERLY DISPOSE OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES IN THEIR
COMMUNITY AND INCLUDE ACTIVE LINKS TO FURTHER INFORMATION AND RESOURCES.
THE DEPARTMENT MAY CONSULT WITH RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO
DEVELOP MATERIAL. THE CAMPAIGN SHALL BEGIN NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER
FIRST, TWO THOUSAND FOURTEEN.
(C) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PREPARE AN ANNUAL REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR
AND THE LEGISLATURE ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER FIRST OF EACH YEAR ON THE
PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN, INCLUDING:
(I) ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE OFFICE TO CARRY OUT THE PUBLIC AWARENESS
CAMPAIGN AND EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN; AND
(II) AN ASSESSMENT OF THE NECESSARY APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE OFFICE TO
MEET THE NEEDS OF THE CAMPAIGN IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.