“Our community – like many others throughout New York – has been hard hit by the heroin and opioid addiction crisis. This epidemic is costing lives, contributing to crime and bringing pain and suffering to so many families. While this is a far-reaching and difficult problem to solve, I’m committed to doing everything I can on the state level to tackle the issue.

“Yesterday, the Governor signed into law several pieces of legislation I helped pass to address the heroin problem. The measures help educate patients and doctors about the dangers of prescribed opioids, help ensure individuals are connected with treatment after they detox and allow social workers and certain other licensed professionals to administer Narcan – a drug which counteracts an opioid overdose – in an emergency. I’m hopeful that these laws will begin to turn the tide against this drug crisis. We must keep looking for ways to get heroin and highly addictive painkillers off our streets so we can save lives.”