Assemblymember Monica P. Wallace (D-Lancaster) announced that she secured $17,500 in the 2017-18 state budget for addiction treatment and diversion in the Town of Cheektowaga.

“The epidemic of tragic overdose deaths in Erie County is a stark reminder of the toll addiction is taking on our community,” said Wallace. “Last year, more than 300 lives were claimed by the opioid and heroin drug crisis in Erie County alone, and recently, there were seven opiate-related deaths in a 24-hour period.”1

The funding for the program is available through the federal Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program and will go directly to the Cheektowaga Justice Court for its Drug Diversion-to-Treatment Program. The heroin and opioid crisis is destroying families and neighborhoods. We must do what we can to address this crisis, and that means ensuring that treatment options are available to help people get on and stay on the road to recovery, noted Wallace.

“Getting treatment for addiction is truly a matter of life and death,” said Wallace. “This program is a vital part of tackling the crisis that’s devastating our communities and making sure people who need help can rebuild their lives.”

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