NOTICE OF ROUNDTABLES

SUBJECT:

A Comprehensive Approach to the Opiate and Heroin Crisis

PURPOSE:

To examine and discuss current policies related to opiate and heroin abuse, including treatment options, in order to develop awareness and potential legislation

Albany

Monday, May 12, 2014

11:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.

Room 104-A

Legislative Office Building

Albany, NY

New York City

Thursday, June 5, 2014

10:30 A.M. – 1:30 P.M.

Room 2225, 22nd Floor

250 Broadway

New York, NY

Participation by Invitation Only

Illicit opiate and heroin use has sharply increased recently throughout the country, including New York State. There are daily news reports of opiate overdoses, which often result in death. This scourge has especially affected young people throughout the state. These roundtables will examine the problem from a public health perspective and explore solutions including prevention, treatment options and possible legislation. The roundtables will include representatives of groups from across the state, including chemical dependence prevention and treatment providers, physicians, drug policy experts, and law enforcement.

Persons invited to participate at the above roundtable should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation. In order to further publicize this roundtable, please inform interested parties and organizations of this upcoming roundtable discussion.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

Steven Cymbrowitz

Member of Assembly

Chair

Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse

Richard N. Gottfried

Member of Assembly

Chair

Committee on Health

Joseph R. Lentol

Member of Assembly

Chair

Committee on Codes

SELECTED ISSUES TO WHICH PARTICIPANTS MAY DIRECT THEIR COMMENTS:

• Why has illicit opiate and heroin usage increased so dramatically in recent years?

• What substance abuse treatment options are currently available to opiate and heroin abusers? What more can be done?

• How can awareness be raised regarding chemical dependency and prevention?

• Has the increased availability of opioid antagonists, such as naloxone, helped in preventing fatal opiate-related overdoses? How can the “911 Good Samaritan Act” (Chapter 154 of the Laws of 2011) be further utilized?

• Who are the persons most impacted by illicit opiate and heroin abuse? Is usage widespread, or concentrated or most common in certain communities?

• What can health care professionals, especially those with prescribing authority, do to help curb opiate abuse and addiction?

• What is the role of law enforcement, including police and district attorneys, in combatting opiate and heroin abuse?

• What more needs to be done to raise the awareness of the general public about the opioid and heroin abuse crisis?

ROUNDTABLE REPLY FORM

Persons invited to present comments at the public roundtable examining “A Comprehensive Approach to the Opiate and Heroin Crisis” are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail, email or fax it to:

Nathaniel Jenkins

Analyst

Assembly Committee on Codes

Room 513, Capitol

Albany, NY 12248

Email:jenkinsn@assembly.state.ny.us

Phone: 518-455-4313

Fax: 518-455-3669

There is an epidemic here on Long Island with heroin and other opioid prescription pain medications costing us the lives of hundreds of our young people and other family members.  It is getting more and more difficult to get treatment episodes paid for by the insurance companies that are contracted  to cover the lives of individuals.  Something must be done…and the time to do it is now!

There are two bills right now in the Senate (S4623) and Assembly (A7003A) calling for a change to NYS Insurance Law regarding who determines medical necessity, the Insurance Company who has a fiduciary interest in denying care, or a physician or qualified healthcare professional  exercising good clinical judgment.  Access to Care is the issue.

Next Tuesday, May 6^th we have an opportunity to go to Albany and let our legislators know we want change and we need their help!  Attached you will find a flyer announcing a Mother’s Day Press Conference which will be held in the afternoon and a morning filled with the chance to visit with those who represent us in Albany.  A bus going from Long Island and you are invited to join in.  All others are welcome to join us there.

Please consider this important event and contact me if you have any questions.  Together we can make a difference.  Our young people need us to lead the way.

Important bills to support for the field.

• Legislative flyer

• For-NY Policy Statement

• ATPA SupportLtr

• Petition Access to treatment1 (2)