Pubdate: Wed, 11 Jun 2014
Source: Citizen, The (Auburn, NY)
Copyright: 2014 Auburn Publishers Inc.
Contact: http://www.auburnpub.com/services/send_a_letter
Website: http://www.auburnpub.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1491
Author: Robert Harding

CUOMO UNVEILS INITIATIVE TO FIGHT HEROIN EPIDEMIC, SAYS STATE HAS 
'SERIOUS PROBLEM' WITH DRUG

State legislators have taken steps to addressing the growing heroin 
problem in New York. Now, Gov. Andrew Cuomo is wading into the 
discussion with some of his own actions to address the rising epidemic.

Cuomo unveiled an initiative Wednesday to combat the heroin problem. 
The governor's plan includes adding 100 investigators to the New York 
State Police's Community Narcotics Enforcement team, or CNET, and 
providing naloxone, an antidote used to treat individuals who 
overdose on heroin, to all first responders in the state.

Another aspect of Cuomo's plan is an awareness campaign on college 
campuses. The effort includes adding heroin and opioid awareness to 
incoming student orientation programs and training resident 
assistants and other staff members on the warning signs of heroin abuse.

Cuomo said it's important for the state to acknowledge there's a 
major heroin problem that needs to be addressed.

"The first step is admitting the problem and not denying it. And 
that's the first step for the collective, for the state. We have to 
admit the problem," Cuomo said at an event Wednesday in Rockland 
County. "This state has a serious problem with heroin. And it has 
been growing and it is getting worse and it is of epidemic 
proportions at this point."

According to Cuomo, one-third of the U.S. Drug Enforcement 
Administration's heroin seizures occur in New York. One of the 
reasons for the growth of the heroin epidemic is the price. It is 
cheaper now, the governor said, than it has been in the past.

Last year, there were 89,269 cases of heroin and opioid treatment 
admissions in New York, up from 63,793 in 2004.

A major demographic affected by the drug are New York residents 
between the ages of 18 and 24, Cuomo said. That's one of the factors 
in launching an awareness campaign to help educate students and 
college officials on SUNY campuses and on private college campuses.

While heroin and opioid awareness will be part of student orientation 
sessions and staffers will be educated on the warning signs of drug 
abuse, Cuomo's plan will also ensure services are provided to 
students seeking drug treatment and health centers and university 
police officers will be trained on how to administer naloxone.

"Increased awareness of the dangers related to heroin use and other 
narcotics is an essential component in any effort to effectively 
combat drug abuse and its effects on our young people," SUNY 
Chancellor Nancy Zimpher said. "The State University of New York is 
proud to be a part of the governor's initiative and thankful for the 
additional resources as our University Police and campus 
administrations and staff continue to support our students while 
ensuring their health and safety."

Cuomo's announcement comes two days after the state Senate passed a 
package of more than 20 bills to address the heroin epidemic. The 
bills were recommended by a Senate heroin task force that held 
hearings throughout the state, including a May 8 forum in Auburn.

Two of Cayuga County's state senators, state Sens. Michael Nozzolio 
and Jim Seward, were members of the panel - Nozzolio was one of the 
task force's vice co-chairs - and sponsored measures approved by the Senate.

One of Nozzolio's bills would require the state to study the 
feasibility of converting closed prisons into drug treatment centers. 
The bill was approved Monday by a vote of 59-0.

It's unclear if the bills passed by the Senate will be brought to the 
Assembly floor for a vote. While the Assembly will likely back at 
least some of the treatment and prevention measures approved by the 
Senate, there is a package of law enforcement bills that the Assembly 
may not support.

Nozzolio and other senators hope to get the legislative package 
through both chambers before the end of the legislative session. The 
2014 session is scheduled to conclude Thursday, June 19.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom