It’s time to have an open dialogue about the very daunting but extremely real issue plaguing our communities: the heroin epidemic. It’s difficult to believe that heroin has snuck its way into our quiet neighborhoods, but the unfortunate reality is that heroin addiction knows no bounds. This epidemic is sweeping all corners of the state, and we need to find a way to stop it together.

For a long time, the subject of heroin has been taboo; that’s a mistake. Although it’s difficult, admitting the terrifying reality of this epidemic is the first step toward taking it down. Last year, my colleagues and I held seven statewide forums and gathered testimony from local officials, law enforcement, health care providers, recovering addicts and parents of addicted individuals. When I hosted one of these forums in Carthage, I was blown away by the honest, emotional testimonies of those facing addiction and their loved ones. Heroin addiction has torn apart countless families and has stolen the lives of so many young people.

Opening up the dialogue proved to be an invaluable first step toward finding a solution to this devastating epidemic. Listening to testimonies and gathering input from various people afflicted by heroin helped us put together a comprehensive report with our findings and recommendations on how to address it. Earlier this week, at a press conference in Albany, my colleagues and I in the Assembly Minority Conference released our report, titled The Heroin Epidemic – A Report on Heroin Use, Treatment, Prevention & Education Efforts in NYS. The report provides solutions that would protect our communities and provide those suffering from addiction with much-needed resources to be rehabilitated. You may read our report by visiting goo.gl/iQkMtx.

We need to do more to treat and prevent addiction. Unfortunately, the governor failed to adequately address the crushing heroin epidemic in his budget proposal earlier this month. My colleagues and I remain committed to the cause and will continue to fight for more funding to go toward addiction treatment and prevention resources.

I hope that our report will serve as a blueprint for New York State to work with community agencies to battle this epidemic and ease the suffering of those affected. I am confident that if we work together and treat this issue with thoughtfulness and compassion, we will be successful in preventing future heroin abuse in our community.

If you or a loved one is facing heroin or opioid addiction, I encourage you to seek help and support. Please call 1-877-8-HOPENY, a 24/7 hotline for those with addiction issues. You also may visit www.oasas.ny.gov/accesshelp.

If you have thoughts on this or any other legislative topic, please share them with me by emailing me at blankenbushk@assembly.state.ny.us or by calling me at 493-3909.