Unveiling his state budget for the 2019 fiscal year Tuesday afternoon in Albany, Governor Andrew Cuomo took a strong stand against substance abuse, blaming drug manufacturers for the opioid epidemic and allocating millions in funding to the state’s Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services.
Hoping to help ease New Yorkers’ financial burdens, Cuomo pledged to find ways to create additional opportunities to fund much needed state programs including those that address the ever-growing use of opioids.
“Opioid manufacturers have created an epidemic,” said Cuomo as he announced an opioid surcharge of two cents per milligram to be paid by drug manufacturers, which is expected to raise $170 million and would be used to offset the costs of state funded opioid treatment programs.
Cuomo said that he is hopeful that the surcharge will create a shift away from opioids within the medical community.
“There are other medicines that they can prescribe besides opioids and to the extent they do, it’s a good thing,” said Cuomo.
The governor also announced a $26 million increase in operating and capital support for the OASAS which would be used to expand both residential and outpatient treatment programs.
Rabbi Zvi Gluck, director of Amudim and a member of the New York State Suicide Prevention Task Force, praised the governor for making opioid abuse a high priority in his latest budget.
“We have seen time and time again how opioid use leads to suicide and with 370 young lives lost in the Jewish community over the past two years it is painfully clear that this problem is getting worse, not better,” said Gluck. “While it has been an uphill battle getting the world to wake up and realize how severe this is, it is a breath of fresh air to see Governor Cuomo joining us on the front lines, fighting this epidemic that is destroying families and entire communities.”
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terry naturally, l’ve been using this since l fell plus disc injury, b’h l have no pain, almost healed, also l’d used evening primrose oil from health from the sun,veg, open cap rub on then add arnica oil from herb pharm, quality matters, for tooth pain, also evening primrose oil, open cap, rub on gum, holistic nutrition is vital to heal , then there’s hyperbaric oxygen therapy-which heals bones plus many other vital issues, insurance will not pay for this, but the differances is outstanding, it would be wonderful if the community would be willing to set this up in… Read more »
There are minimal, if any, negative side effects of Cannabis. How about putting the tax money to concluding the necessary research to confirm the healing power of Cannabis – and make it legal? Research in Yerushalaim shows that lab animals are cured of cancer when given Cannabis. But there are no funds to do the extensive research needed to try it on humans. In the meantime – until Cannabis is legalized – the use of wheat grass juice is known to be more effective at treating cancer than the conventional methods. But medical professionals are not allowed to suggest wheat… Read more »
Targeting the drug without targeting the reason its being used, is going to help very little or at all. Think of it as gun control, and then thing strictest gun laws in the states -California, Chicago…. Adding a tax on opioid pain meds, is just another state tax grab, similar to the soda tax in Seattle. Soon you will see it on high sugar content, herring, and high sodium foods, salami, hit dogs, or literally anything. I was also told by a current licensed therapist, who is also an ex addict, that he feels bad for all those that really… Read more »