Genesee and Monroe Counties are among 19 new counties in New York State set to receive federal funding through the Opioid State Targeted Response Grant in the program’s second year, according to a September 6th statement from the office of New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Counties in the state are receiving a total of over $25 million to fund programs that offer prevention, treatment, and recovery services in high-need areas to increase access to treatment as well as reduce unmet need and overdose-related deaths.
As part of the grant, the Genesee Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, Inc. will receive $650,000 and the Delphi Drug and Alcohol Council, Inc. of Monroe County will receive $700,000. In addition, designated high-need counties will share more than $1.3 million to expand medication-assisted treatment and treatment transition for patients in local correctional facilities and state parole violator facilities.
In his statement, Governor Cuomo said, "This opioid crisis devastates families and entire communities and we must do everything in our power to fight back against this very real threat to New Yorkers. It's critical that we continue to lead the nation in implementing new, effective solutions to save lives."
Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, Co-Chair of the Heroin and Opioid Abuse Task Force, said, “In New York, we're aggressively fighting to prevent addiction and support recovery efforts, and we will not stop until those who contribute to the crisis are held accountable and all New Yorkers have the access and opportunity to seek recovery and live better and healthier lives."
Funding for the Opioid State Targeted Response Grant is administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Last year, 16 counties in New York were recipients of the grant funding. This year, 19 additional counties have been identified as having high needs, for a total of 35 counties receiving funds from the grant in its second year.
New counties to receive funding were designated as having high needs based on the number of opioid overdose deaths, hospitalizations involving opioids, and residents leaving the county to access addiction treatment services.
Genesee and Monroe Counties were not grant recipients during the program’s first year.
New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can seek help by calling the state's toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369).