NY Gov. Kathy Hochul should declare a state of emergency, allowing more funds and resources to be prioritized for addressing the opioid epidemic.

 According to the New York State Department of Health, in 2023 Broome, Sullivan and Greene counties had among 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 Gov. 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 [Dutchess] 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.

Rep. Marc Molinaro (R, NY-19)
Washington, D.C.