SERINO PUSHES REFORMS TO ADDRESS CRIPPLING HEROIN EPIDEMIC

ALBANY, NY— Senator Sue Serino (R, C, I—Hyde Park) joined a bi-partisan group of lawmakers at a press conference in Albany today to release a report and recommendations of the Senate’s Joint Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Addiction. 

“If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times. The heroin epidemic is here. It’s on our streets, in our schools and may even be in our homes. This epidemic does not discriminate and we absolutely cannot assume that our families will never feel its devastating impact,” said Serino, a member of the Task Force. “I applaud the Task Force for making this issue a priority and for working toward a multi-pronged approach that tackles the many facets of addiction.”

In its report, the Task Force identified a four-pronged approach that aims to stop the scourge of heroin that has devastated far too many families across the state—prevention, treatment, recovery and enforcement.

“If there is one thing that we have learned about this epidemic is that we simply cannot arrest our way out of it,” Serino continued. “I am glad to see that while the recommendations certainly place an appropriate emphasis on prosecuting those responsible for spreading this epidemic, it also focuses on prevention, treatment, recovery and support for the families impacted by addiction. Stamping out heroin is no easy task, but working together, we can help families and individuals find the light at the end of the tunnel.”

The announcement comes on the heels of the passage of this year’s unprecedented state budget commitment of $166 million to address the heroin and opioid crisis, treatment, outpatient, and residential services—an increase of $25 million above the Executive Budget’s original proposal.

Following the press conference, the Senate passed a series of bills in line with the report’s recommendations.

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