More Resources, Prevention Efforts Needed to Combat Heroin Epidemic

It is well known that opioid and heroin addiction has increased throughout the nation in the last decade. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heroin deaths quadrupled between 2002 and 2013 — surpassing traffic accidents as the leading cause of accidental deaths. The increase in drug use and addiction has affected every demographic, race, and age group in the nation. 

My colleagues and I recently held a series of hearings across the state to gather input from local officials, health-care providers, parents of addicted children, and individuals addicted to heroin. We heard testimony on the crippling effects of addiction, the cost to communities, and the toll on families. There are many sad stories. In New York alone, there were more than 118,000 admissions to in-state treatment programs for heroin and opioid addictions, an 18 percent increase over 2009. While these individuals have received services, many others have not. Many testified at our hearings about having limited or no access to care, trouble getting insurance companies to pay for services to cure addiction, and being discharged from detoxification programs while experiencing withdrawal symptoms. 

I recently stood with a number of my colleagues in Albany to urge Governor Cuomo to dedicate more resources in the budget to give law enforcement and health-care workers the resources they need to combat this serious epidemic. About two years ago, the state recognized the crisis and began administering overdose-treatment kits. These have been known to save lives, and I’m glad funds were provided to get some training and kits to paramedics and health-care workers to help prevent death from overdose. While the kits are beneficial, they do not solve the crisis. 

More must be done to treat and prevent addiction. More education on prevention needs to be provided in schools. Education can save lives. If individuals are aware of the dangers and know the signs to spot, they are better equipped to help themselves and their family members. We also need to provide resources to meet the needs of those facing addiction. Unfortunately, the executive-budget proposal does not include more resources for addiction and prevention. Amid all this crisis of death and accidents caused by people under the influence, the executive-budget proposes to reduce opiate abuse treatment and prevention programs by $1 million. The governor and the legislature need to allocate more money for addiction treatment and to help give law enforcement the tools it needs to be effective. 

While funding will help, it became clear at the hearings that, unfortunately, there is often a disconnect between health-care providers, insurance companies, law enforcement, the courts, and families, which perpetuates the addiction for the individual rather than helping her recover. In other words, even if the individual is treated, she often relapses. Many have figured out that the only way to receive help is to be arrested and then have law enforcement or the courts mandate treatment. This further complicates everything and decreases the individual’s chances for future employment as well.

The hearings, though difficult, were informative and a necessary part of seeing that more attention is given to this important public-health crisis and helping us to craft legislation which addresses this issue. I will work to make sure that our state budget will reflect the public’s demand for effective treatment.          

William (Will) A. Barclay is the Republican representative of the 120th New York Assembly District, which encompasses most of Oswego County, including the cities of Oswego and Fulton, as well as the town of Lysander in Onondaga County and town of Ellisburg in Jefferson County. Contact him at barclaw@assembly.state.ny.us, or (315) 598-5185.