BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – Congressman Marc Molinaro is calling on Governer Kathy Hochul to address the ongoing opioid epidemic in New York State.
On Monday, Molinaro urged Hochul to declare a State of Emergency, allowing more funds and resources to be prioritized for addressing the crisis.
Molinaro’s call is the result of a new report that declares New York’s 19th Congressional District as the epicenter of the opioid epidemic. According to the New York State Department of Health, in 2023 Broome, Sullivan, and Greene counties had the highest opioid overdose rates in New York State.
“You can’t help but be alarmed by these grave statistics. With Broome, Sullivan, and Greene being in the top five for overdose rates in 2023, NY-19 is now the epicenter of the opioid crisis. I’m calling on Governor Hochul to declare a State of Emergency because this is the greatest public health emergency of our lifetime and should be treated as such. As County Executive, I pioneered a stabilization center model that allowed anyone suffering from a substance use disorder to get immediate help. It’s a model that has been successfully replicated across the state. The expansion of this model, paired with emergency funds and resources to provide long-term treatment and crack down on drug trafficking, can and will save lives,” said Molinaro.
Similar orders have already been issued in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Florida.
In Congress, Molinaro has remained committed to addressing the opioid epidemic. He has fought to secure a designation to combat drug trafficking and fatal overdoses in Sullivan County, he has worked to expand the stabilization center model across Upstate New York, and he has hosted roundtables in Broome and Sullivan counties to discuss the expansion of treatment options. Molinaro also introduced bipartisan legislation to make it easier to access Narcan.
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