SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND, TONKO ANNOUNCE OVER $357K IN FEDERAL FUNDING TO HELP COMBAT THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC IN THE CAPITAL REGION

Washington, DC – U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY-20) today announced $357,500 in federal funding for the Health Research, Inc. Public Safety Overdose Response Initiative in Menands. The funding will be used to mitigate opioid addiction and abuse in Albany County. The funding was allocated by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy and will be used to evaluate community-based efforts to address the opioid epidemic and support collaboration between local law enforcement and public health agencies as they respond to opioid addiction and abuse.

“The opioid epidemic in the Capital Region is a symptom of this national emergency, and we need to fight back now. With this vital funding, Health Research, Inc.’s Public Safety Overdose Response Initiative can further the hard work of prevention and treatment,” said Senator Schumer. “I am proud to announce this critical funding and will continue working to help ensure that Capital Region communities have the resources they need to make a difference in this fight.”

“With communities across New York working tirelessly to combat the opioid epidemic, this federal funding for the Health Research, Inc. will help provide much-needed support for families in the Capital Region who have been hurt by this crisis,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The opioid epidemic has torn families apart, and we need to be doing everything possible to make sure our communities have the resources to end the opioid crisis once and for all.”

“In the past year, we have achieved major advances in Congress to deliver the resources and care that millions of Americans need to overcome the disease of addiction,” said Congressman Tonko. “Unfortunately, overdose deaths remain the number one cause of death for Americans under 50. Smart policy on this issue saves lives but we also need to continue our steadfast support for local caregivers and organizations that are on the front lines of this epidemic, fighting tirelessly to make our communities safer and healthier. My congratulations to Health Research, Inc. and other organizations across New York who have earned this infusion of federal support for their life-saving work.”

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy awarded this funding through its Combating Opioid Overdose through Community-Level Intervention (COOCLI) grant program, which supports new initiatives to end the opioid epidemic that go beyond traditional health and law enforcement policies.

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