“This morning, the Governor signed legislation that requires opioid settlement money to be used by the New York State Office of Addiction Services (OASAS) to address the opioid epidemic. This epidemic has impacted every person in the North Country in some way and I was proud to co-sponsor this bill since it was introduced. With the recent court case against Johnson and Johnson that awarded New York $230 million, it is even more important to ensure that this settlement money is allocated to OASAS and not put into the general fund. The past year has been extremely difficult for the recovery community as overdoses increased due to isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic, and recovery programs and organizations need this funding now more than ever. There are too many heartbreaking stories about losing loved ones to addiction, and I will continue to advocate for the resources the North Country needs to help those impacted by the opioid epidemic.”