Agreement Reached To Combat Heroin And Opioid Abuse In New York

Governor Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders have reached a final agreement on new legislation to combat heroin and opioid abuse in New York State.

The package of bills limits opioid prescriptions from 30 to seven days, and requires mandatory prescriber education on pain management.

The legislation also increases treatment beds by nearly 300 and expands program slots for substance use disorder by more than 2,000 in New York.

“New York and the nation as a whole is grappling with how to combat heroin and opioid addiction and, with this comprehensive plan, we are continuing to take decisive action to end this epidemic and protect our families and communities,” Governor Cuomo said. “This multi-faceted legislative package will increase access to treatment, expand prevention strategies, and save lives by helping ensure New Yorkers struggling with addiction have access to the services and resources they need to get well.

The agreement comes on the heels of the recent release of the Governor's heroin and opioid task force's final report and recommendations.