Albany, NY – Assemblymember Phil Steck, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, is calling for immediate action from state government to release the remaining opioid settlement funds to New York’s addiction care providers. While state officials have publicly celebrated a reduction in overdose deaths, Steck points to alarming financial data that shows the majority of the funds remain unspent, despite urgent need.

“For years, we’ve heard from state leaders that $400 million of the $500 million received through opioid lawsuit settlements has been ‘made available’ to combat addiction and support recovery,” said Steck. “But when asked how much has actually been spent, the answer has been silence. Now, thanks to the Office of the State Comptroller and the Freedom of Information Law, we finally have clarity, and it’s deeply concerning.”

According to data from the Comptroller’s Office, less than $150 million has been spent by the state on addiction and recovery services. An additional $150 million has gone to local governments as required by the settlement agreements, though the state has no oversight over how those local funds are used.

“That leaves nearly $200 million just sitting there while providers across the state are overwhelmed and under-resourced,” Steck said. “And now we’re seeing a troubling rise in overdose deaths again in 2025. The time for self-congratulation is over. The time for decisive action is now.”

Steck is urging the Gov. Hochul Administration and the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) to move swiftly to invest the remaining funds directly into community-based treatment, prevention, harm reduction, and recovery support programs.

Adding to the concern, the state has spent more than $20 million on only one brand of the life-saving medication naloxone, Narcan, despite the availability of more affordable and equally effective alternatives. In response, Steck successfully passed legislation through the Assembly that would require the New York State Department of Health to make available any formulation and dosage of an opioid reversal agent approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Steck is calling on the Department of Health to abide by the clear message of the Assembly and make all overdose reversal agents available.

“Our addiction care system has been pushed to the brink,” said Steck. “These funds were won to save lives, and they’re not doing that sitting in an account. We also need to be smarter about how we allocate the dollars we do spend. Expanding access to a range of opioid reversal agents is one critical step in that direction.”