AFTER YEARS OF PROMOTING BAD MEDICINE - THAT FUELED AN OPIOID EPIDEMIC - DRUG MANUFACTURERS AND DISTRIBUTORS ARE BEING FORCED TO PAY UP - FOR CONTRIBUTING TO THOUSANDS OF LOST LIVES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

TODAY ON CONNECT: NEW YORK, WILL EXPLORE HOW STATE POLICYMAKERS IN NEW YORK COULD SPEND MORE THAN A BILLION DOLLARS FROM LEGAL SETTLEMENTS.

DON'T GO ANYWHERE.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ WELCOME TO CONNECT-NEW YORK.

I'M DAVID LOMBARDO, HOST OF WCNY'S THE CAPITOL PRESSROOM, A DAILY PUBLIC RADIO SHOW, BROADCASTING FROM THE STATE CAPITOL.

ON TODAY'S SHOW WE'RE GOING TO EXPLORE HOW NEW YORK COULD-- OR SHOULD-- INVEST A WINDFALL FROM LEGAL SETTLEMENTS WITH OPIOID MANUFACTURERS AND DISTRIBUORS - MANUFACTURERS AND DISTRIBUTORS - FOR THEIR ROLE IN CREATING AN EPIDEMIC THAT CONTINUES TO CLAIM THOUSANDS OF LIVES EACH YEAR.

WE'LL DISCUSS RECENT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM A STATE OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND ADVISORY BOARD AND HEAR FROM THE STATE COMMISSIONER WHO WILL HELP OVERSEE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME INVESTMENT.

BUT FIRST, WE'RE GOING TO TURN OUR ATTENTION TO CENTRAL NEW YORK, WHERE CONNECT-NEW YORK PRODUCER SUSAN BITTER CAPTURED A SNAPSHOT OF THIS PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS AND HOW ONE LOCAL COMMUNITY IS RESPONDING.

>> THE OPIOID CRISIS IN ONEIDA COUNTY IS NOT UNLIKE THAT INTO MANY OF OUR COUNTIES UPSTATE AND REALLY THUOUT NEW YORK STATE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

BACK IN 2017, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES DECLARED A NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY BECAUSE OF OPIOIDS.

AND IT IS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS BECAUSE IT'S NATIONWIDE.

AND IT DOES IMPACT PEOPLE NEGATIVELY IN A VARIETY OF WAYS.

>> WHEN WE BEGAN TO SEE THIS TREND OF THE OPIOIDS, YOU KNOW, MAKING THEIR WAY INTO OUR COMMUNITY, WE QUICKLY FIGURED OUT THAT IT WAS AFFECTING ALL WALKS OF LIFE.

WE HAVE SEEN HOMELESS PEOPLE OVERDOSING, PEOPLE WITH DOCTORATES AND MASTERS DEGREES AND WELL ESTABLISHED CAREERS, EXPERIENCING ADDICTION AND OVERDOSES.

RIGHTED AWAY IN OUR CASE, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, HE QUICKLY REALIZED THAT WE NEED TO ASSEMBLE A SEEM.

>> THE OPIATE TASK FORCE WAS CREATED IN 2016 AND RESTRUCTURED A LITTLE BIT IN 2019.

CHAIRED BY MYSELF AS COUNTY EXECUTIVE, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY SCOTT McNAMARA, THE ONEIDA COUNTY SHERIFF ROB MACIOL AND IS COMPRISED OF A NUMBER OF STAKEHOLDERS AND COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THE TASK FORCE HAS BEEN WIDE RANGING IN LOOKING AT SO MANY DIFFERENT AREAS AND ALSO EMPLOYING THE USE OF THE O.D.

MAPPING AND DASHBOARD IN WHICH WE CAN TRACK THE OVERDOSES, THE AREAS, THE DEMOGRAPHICS, THE AGE GROUPS, THE AREAS OF THE COUNTY IN WHICH THESE ARE OCCURRING, AND REALLY BREAK DOWN ALL OF THE DIFFERENT NARCOTICS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED.

>> WHERE THEY'RE OCCURRING, WHY THEY'RE OCCURRING AND ALSO HOW DO WE GET SERVICES OUT TO PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE DEALING WITH DRUG ADDICTION.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THE NUMBERS HAVE GONE DOWN.

THERE WAS A DECREASE BETWEEN 2020 AND 2021, BUT THE NUMBERS HAVE GONE UP AGAIN.

THAT'S BECAUSE BASICALLY, MORE PEOPLE ARE BECOMING ADDICTED TO OPIOIDS.

>> EVEN LIKE WITH ALL THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE TO DATE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT JUST 2022, I BELIEVE WE ARE UP TO ABOUT 70 OVERDOSE DEATHS IN ONEIDA COUNTY ALONE.

SO FAR YEAR TO DATE.

WE ARE AT ABOUT 352 OVERDOSES WE'RE TO DATE.

SO I MEAN WE ARE DEALING WITH MORE THAN ONE OVERDOSE EVERY SINGLE DAY.

>> BASICALLY IT HAS PUT A STRAIN ON THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM FOR THE PAST, WELL, SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.

WE HAVE HAD, OF COURSE, COVID HOSPITALS STRAINED BY STAFFING AND THROUGH THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS GOING IN.

THAT, COUPLED WITH THIS PAST YEAR, AN INCREASE IN INFLUENZA LIKE ILLNESSES, RSV AND THE FLU AND PUT PATIENTS COMING IN BECAUSE OF DRUG OVERDOSES INTO THE MIX, IT HAS PUT A STRAIN ON THE SYSTEM LOCALLY.

>> THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVE, BECAUSE I'VE SAID THIS FROM DAY ONE.

WE CANNOT ARREST OUR WAY OUT OF THIS PROBLEM.

IT IS PART OF IT.

THAT'S A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT PART OF IT, WHEN WE MAKE ARRESTS ON PEOPLE WHO ARE BRINGING THIS OR INTRODUCING THIS INTO OUR COMMUNITY.

>> THROUGH THE COOPERATION AND WORK WITH THE OPIOID TASK FORCE AND GRANT FUNDING, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PUT UP MAR NARCAN CABINETS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, DISTRIBUTE NARCAN THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, DISTRIBUTE TO NARCAN TO INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT IN THEIR HOMES, VIA MAIL, WE CAN MAIL IT TO PEOPLE.

WE HAVE ALSO PUT DETERRA KITS THAT CAN BE USED TO MAKE PRESCRIPTION AND OTHER DRUGS INERT BY MIXING WITH WATER, IT'S A BAG YOU PUT THE DRUG IN.

WE HAVE DISTRIBUTED THEM BY MAIL THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

AND BASICALLY ANYONE THAT REQUESTS NARCAN OR DETERRA KITS CAN OBTAIN THEM FROM THE ONEIDA COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

>> SAVE A LIFE KIT IS A SIMPLE PACKET THAT CARRIES WITH IT INSTRUCTIONS AND A COUPLE OF NASAL SPRAYS OF NARCAN READILY AVAILABLE IN CASE A BUSINESS COMES UPON SOMEONE WHO HAS OVERDOSED.

THERE IS NO SET AREA IN WHICH THAT ON OCCURS.

IT CAN OCCUR IN THE WORKPLACE OR A COFFEE PLACE OR ANY RESTAURANT OR RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT.

THE RESPONSE BY THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN OVERWHELMING IN THOSE THAT HAVE REQUESTED THEM.

YOU KNOW, WE LIKE TO SAY THAT THEY SAVE LIVES AND WE BELIEVE THEY HAVE.

>> YOU KNOW, IN MY OPINION, IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN AN A.E.D.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE THAT NEEDED THE HELP ARE GETTING IT.

WE NEED TO END THE STIGMA THAT'S ATTACHED TO ADDICTION.

I DON'T CARE WHAT BROUGHT THAT PERSON TO THAT POINT AT THAT MOMENT, I DON'T CARE HOW THEY GOT THERE OR WHO THEY ARE OR WHAT COLOR THEY ARE OR WHAT COMMUNITY THEY CAME FROM.

WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION AS CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY TO SAVE PEOPLE OR HELP PEOPLE IN A TIME OF NEED.

>> OUR GOAL IS OBVIOUSLY JUST SAVING LIVES, YOU KNOW, AND REDUCING THE NUMBER OF OVERDOSES.

I THINK WE ARE MAKING HEADWAY.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE AND, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN NOT SEE THE SPIKE AS WE SAW IN SEVERAL YEARS AGO AS THIS WAS REALLY BECOMING MORE OF AN EPIDEMIC AT THAT POINT, I THINK WE CAN HOPEFULLY MAKE SOME GREAT STRIDES AS WE ENTER INTO 2023.

>> AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM DR. CHINAZO CUNNINGHAM - COMMISSIONER FOR THE STATE OFFICE OF ADDICITON SERVICES AND SUPPORTS - WHO SERVED ON THE STATE'S OPIOID FUND ADVISORY BOARD, WHICH RECENTLY RELEASED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SPENDING NEARLY $129 MILLION IN SETTLEMENT FUNDS THIS FISCAL YEAR, WITH A FOCUS ON HARM REDUCTION.

WE SPOKE WITH COMMISSIONER CUNNINGHAM, EARLIER THIS MONTH FROM HER OFFICE IN NEW YORK CITY.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW, COMMISSIONER CUNNINGHAM.

IT'S GREAT TO TALK TO YOU.

>> GREAT.

THANKS, HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> SO THE REPORT FROM THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT ADVISORY BOARD RECOMMENDED HOW TO SPEND ABOUT $128 MILLION IN SETTLEMENT FUNDING FOR THIS STATE'S FISCAL YEAR WITH THE BOARD RECOMMENDING 22% FOR HARM REDUCTION, 12% FOR TREATMENT AND PERCENTAGES FOR EIGHT OTHER AREAS.

IF YOU HAD WEIGHED IN ON THIS PART OF THE BOARD'S REPORT, WHAT AREAS WOULD YOU HAVE RECOMMENDED PRIORITIZING?

>> YEAH, SO I THINK THE BOARD AND WE ARE REALLY HIGHLY ALIGNED.

SO COMING IN AS THE COMMISSIONER, CERTAINLY PART OF MY VISION AT OASIS WAS PRIORITIZING HARM REDUCTION.

THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FROM THE BOARD AND I THINK WE REALLY RECOGNIZED THE NEED TO HELP KEEP PEOPLE ALIVE, BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE ARE DYING OF DRUG OVERDOSE.

AND EMBRACING HARM REDUCTION IS ABSOLUTELY A PRIORITY.

WE ALSO SEE THIS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN TERMS OF REALLY, YOU KNOW, OUR PRESIDENT TALKED ABOUT HARM REDUCTION.

THE NATIONAL STRATEGY INCLUDES HARM REDUCTION.

GOVERNOR HOCHUL EMBRACES HARM REDUCTION SO I THINK ALL THE WAY THROUGH THIS IS A PRIORITY FOR US.

AND SO SEEING THAT THIS IS A PRIORITY FOR THE BOARD REALLY SHOWS OUR ALIGNMENT.

AND I THINK IN TERMS OF OTHER OF THE PRIORITIES: TREATMENT, INVESTING ACROSS THE SERVICE CONTINUUM, PRIORITIZING POPULATIONS AT HIGH RISK.

PRIORITIZING EQUITY.

THE THAT'S ANOTHER PRIORITY.

AND THE HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISSORDZ IS ANOTHER PRIORITY AS OASAS.

SO I THINK THROUGH AND THROUGH, WE ARE REALLY HIGHLY ALIGNED.

SO THIS IS PART OF OUR VISION.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO REALLY BEING ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THESE PRIORITIES.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE BOARD, HOW DO THEY COMPARE TO THE PROPOSED SPENDING FROM THIS SPRING FOR THIS POT OF MONEY THAT STATE LAWMAKERS AND GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL'S OFFICE AGREED UPON?

THERE IS A LOT OF BREATHING ROOM?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

AND SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LOT OF OVERLAP IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE CATEGORIES THAT WERE OUTLINED IN THE PRIOR BUDGET THAT FITS INTO THESE RECOMMENDATIONS.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR TREATMENT, THAT WAS A HUGE CATEGORY IN THE BUDGET.

AND THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN TREATMENT: RECOVERY IS INCLUDED.

HOUSING IS INCLUDED.

THESE HIGH PRIORITY POPULATIONS ARE INCLUDED.

AND SO HARM REDUCTION IS PART OF TREATMENT AS WELL.

I THINK THAT IT IS ALIGNED WITH, YOU KNOW, WITH THE CURRENT BUDGET YEAR AND I DON'T THINK THAT WE ARE GOING TO REALLY SEE ANY PROBLEMS.

>> WHEN YOU THINK LONGER TERM, HOW DO THESE RECOMMENDATIONS COMPARE WITH POLICIES AND FUNDING PRIORITIES THAT NEW YORK HAS EMBRACED EVEN BEFORE GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL?

DO THESE REPRESENT A SIGNIFICANT SHIFT IN DIRECTION, OR DOES IT REPRESENT A CONTINUATION OF THE PRIORITIES THAT WE'VE SEEN FROM STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS?

>> I CERTAINLY THINK THAT IT REPRESENTS A CONTINUATION.

BUT I WOULD SAY THAT, IF THERE IS A SHIFT, THE ONE SHIFT IS AROUND HARM REDUCTION AND I THINK THIS IS A SHIFT WE ARE SEEING ACROSS THE BOARD.

AND SO HARM REDUCTION, FOR EXAMPLE, WAS NEVER FUNDED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

AND THIS YEAR WAS THE FIRST TIME WE SAW HARM REDUCTION INITIATIVES SPECIFICALLY FUNDED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

AND SO CALLING OUT HARM REDUCTION, KNOWING THAT THIS IS AN AREA THAT HAS BEEN TRADITIONALLY UNDERFUNDED AND CALLING THIS OUT AS THE FIRST PRIORITY, I THINK, REALLY SPEAKS TO THE HISTORY OF THE SORT OF LACK OF FUNDING AND THE LACK OF RECOGNITION OF HOW IMPORTANT HARM REDUCTION IS AND SORT OF NOW MAKING THAT SORT OF RIGHT AND RIGHT SIZING THAT.

SO, YOU KNOW, CONTINUING REALLY IN THE AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN PRIORITIES BUT INFUSING HARM REDUCTION WITHIN THOSE AREAS, I THINK, IS REALLY THE WAY THAT WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> WELL, UNDER THE BANNER OF HARM REDUCTION, THE BOARD IS RECOMMENDING FUNDING FOR OVERDOSE PREVENTION CENTERS, WHICH HAVE A TRACK RECORD OF SAVING LIVES AND CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH TREATMENT.

IF THE STATE DOES GO THIS ROUTE AND INVESTS IN OVERDOSE PREVENTION CENTERS WHICH ARE POLITICALLY CONTROVERSIAL, WHAT WILL THAT LOOK LIKE?

WHAT WOULD A STATE INVESTMENT AMOUNT TO?

>> YEAH, I MEAN I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.

SO, YOU KNOW, REALLY DIFFICULT TO ANSWER RIGHT NOW.

WHAT I WOULD SAY IS CERTAINLY OVERDOSE PREVENTION CENTERS ARE A HARM REDUCTION STRATEGY AND HARM REDUCTION IS CLEARLY A PRIORITY HERE AND THERE IS, YOU KNOW, A LOT REALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT HARM REDUCTION APPROACHES THAT RANGE FROM, YOU KNOW, EMBRACING PRINCIPAL PRINCIPLES IN TERMS OF PREVENTION, TREATMENT AND RECOVERY ALL THE WAY THROUGH EXPANEDDING THE NALOXONE SO THAT REDUCES OVERDOSE DEATHS, EXPANDING FENTANYL TEST STRIPS BECAUSE WE KNOW FENTANYL IS IN THE DRUG SUPPLY.

AND TO REALLY THINK ABOUT HOW TO GET OUTSIDE OF THE WALLS OF, YOU KNOW, TRADITIONAL TREATMENT AND SERVICE PROVIDERS.

SO GOING OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, DOING OUTREACH, ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE REALLY SUPPORTED BY, YOU KNOW, HARM REDUCTION INITIATIVES AND REALLY ARE ALIGNED WITH THE HARM REDUCTION BEING A PRIORITY.

>> RIGHT NOW THE LANDSCAPE OF OVERDOSE PREVENTION CENTERS IN NEW YORK CONSIST OF TWO EXTENSION FACILITIES IN NEW YORK CITY AND THE STATE REALLY HAS BEEN HANDS OFF ON THIS ISSUE FOR THE MOST PART.

IS IT SAFE TO ASSUME IF THE STATE DOES PURSUE THIS PATHWAY, WE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO WALK BEFORE WE START TO RUN AND IF IT IS THE CASE, WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE THOUGH?

ARE WE TALKING ABOUT STUDYING THE ISSUE?

IS IT SOME SORT OF PILOT PROGRAMS?

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS PRACTICAL?

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY HARD TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

I HAVE TO SAY... >> I HAVE TOUGH QUESTIONS FOR YOU.

I KNOW YOU CAN HANDLE THEM.

>> THE OVERDOSE PREVENTION CENTERS RIGHT NOW ARE RUN BY PRIVATE, YOU KNOW, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.

AND, YOU KNOW, THERE IS NO CITY OR STATE AUTHORITY, NO FUNDING, NO REGULAR-- NO REGULATIONS RIGHT NOW.

AS YOU MENTIONED, THESE ARE THE ONLY TWO IN THE COUNTRY.

SO I THINK THIS IS A BIG QUESTION.

WE DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR IT.

>> THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ARE ALL PERCENTAGES FOR AREAS THAT THE BOARD WANTS THE STATE TO INVEST IN.

DO YOU THINK THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE SPECIFICITY FROM THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS OR DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO TAKE THIS SORT OF BROAD BIG PICTURE APPROACH?

>> SO I CERTAINLY THINK IT MAKES MORE SENSE TO TAKE A BROAD APPROACH.

AND I THINK PART OF THAT-- THESE ARE A LOT OF THE COMMENTS I WAS SAYING DURING THE BOARD MEETINGS.

AND I THINK IT'S CHALLENGING FOR BOARD MEMBERS TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHAT ELSE IS BEING FUNDED BY OTHER STREAMS OF RESOURCES; WHERE THOSE ARE OCCURRING.

AND SO I THINK FOR OUR JOB AT THE STATE IS REALLY TO LOOK ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE.

YOU KNOW, WHAT'S BEING FUNDED IN CENTRAL REGION OR THE CAPITAL REGION OR WESTERN NEW YORK OR THE NORTH COUNTRY OR IN LONG ISLAND, AND THEN WHAT'S NOT BEING FUNDED?

WHAT GROUPS ARE THE HIGHEST RISK IN EACH ONE OF THESE AREAS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE THEN SORT OF MATCH THE FUNDING BASED ON WHAT THE NEED IS AND BASED ON WHAT ALREADY EXISTS.

SO TO ASK THE BOARD TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, I THINK, IS NOT REALLY FEASIBLE IN THE TIMEFRAME THAT WE HAVE.

BUT I THINK KEEPING IT BROAD THEN ALLOWS US AT THE STATE TO REALLY BE ABLE TO SORT OF LOOK AT ALL OF THESE FACTORS, USE OUR DATA, KNOW, YOU KNOW, USE THE OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO REALLY PROVIDE SERVICES IN AREAS THAT HAVE THE HIGHEST NEED AND TO POPULATIONS THAT HAVE THE HIGHEST NEED.

>> THERE WAS ONE INVESTMENT THOUGH THAT DID GO TO A SPECIFIC PROVIDER ABOUT $8 MILLION THAT SOME BOARD MEMBERS AND ACTIVISTS HAVE RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT, ARGUING THAT THE MONEY SHOULD HAVE GONE THROUGH THE SAME SORT OF COMPETITIVE PROCESS THAT THE BULK OF OTHER MONIES IS GOING TO BE APPROPRIATED.

AND ALSO RAISED A RED FLAG ABOUT THE RECIPIENT OF THE MONEY BEING ON THE BOARD.

DOES THAT PROCESS GIVE YOU ANY PAUSE, CONSIDERING HOW YOU JUST SPOKE SO HIGHLY ABOUT THE GENERAL NATURE OF THE OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS?

>> SO YOU KNOW, THIS IS AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN BOTH HOUSES AND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH IN TERMS OF FUNDING THIS ONE SPECIFIC ENTITY.

I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS ENTITY, THERE IS A LONG STANDING COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE STATE AND THIS ORGANIZATION TO REALLY THINK ABOUT HOW THIS WILL MOVE FORWARD IN THE FUTURE.

THE OTHER THICK IS-- THE OTHER THING IS SO MANY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS, HARM REDUCTION, TREATMENT, TRANSPORTATION, INCLUDING PEERS, ARE ALL INCORPORATED IN THE WORK THAT IS HAPPENING WITH THIS ONE INITIATIVE.

AND IT'S REALLY TO EXPAND THE INITIATIVE ACROSS THE STATE.

SO I DO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IT IS ALIGNED WITH A LOT OF THE PRIORITIES THAT THE BOARD DID PUT OUT.

AND IT IS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE STATE.

SO IT IS UNIQUE, YES.

BUT IT'S CERTAINLY ALIGNED WITH ALL OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS.

>> IN ADDITION TO THE $128 MILLION FROM THIS STATE FISCAL YEAR THAT THE BOARD GOT TO WEIGH IN ON, THERE IS $64 MILLION GOING DIRECTLY TO MUNICIPALITIES TO HELP FIGHT THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC.

ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THE MONEY WE SEE FLOWING TO LOCALITIES BEING INVESTED MAYBE ACROSS-- AT CROSS PURPOSES WITH WHAT THE STATE IS GOING TO FUND OR JUST SIMPLY GOING TOWARD FAMILIAR VE.DES THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY-- INVESTMENTS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY EFFECTIVE BASED ON DATA?

>> IT'S HARD TO KNOW WHAT EXACTLY THE MUNICIPALITY ARE GOING TO BE DOING.

SOME OF THEM HAVE STARTED SPENDING MONEY AND OTHERS HAVE NOT.

FOR US, WHAT WE ARE FOCUSING IS ON TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THEY USE THOSE DOLLARS SO WE DON'T DUPLICATE DOLLARS.

AGAIN, THIS IS MAKING SURE WE ARE LOOKING ACROSS THE STATE, UNDERSTANDING WHAT SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE AND NOT AVAILABLE IN THE SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE STATE SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THE MONEY THAT WE ARE USING IS REALLY GOING TO BE IMPACTFUL.

>> THIS RECOMMENDATION TOUCHES ON $128 MILLION OF FUNDING AND THE STATE IS GOING TO BRING IN A LOT MORE THAN THAT AS A RESULT OF SETTLEMENTS WITH OPIOID DISTRIBUTORS AND MANUFACTURERS.

SO WHAT COMES NEXT FOR THE BOARD, SAY IN 2023 AND BEYOND?

DO THEY HAVE A ROLE IN FOLLOWING UP ON INVESTMENTS THAT ARE BEING MADE NOW AS WELL AS WEIGHING IN ON MONEY THAT WE ARE GOING TO GET IN THE FUTURE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE BOARD IS GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, IN EFFECT, FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IS THAT THE BOARD IS GOING TO RECEIVE ANNUAL REPORTS THAT, YOU KNOW, SHOW HOW THE MONEY WAS USED, AND WHAT PARTS OF THE STATE, WHAT POPULATIONS, AND SO THEY WILL BE ABLE TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY WANT TO CONTINUE FORWARD WITH THE SAME PLAN AND THE SAME PRIORITIES OR CHANGE THEM.

WE KNOW THAT THE WORLD CHANGES, RIGHT?

TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO WE WOULD NOT HAVE PREDICTED COVID, WE WOULD NOT HAVE PREDICTED HOW MUCH FENTANYL THERE IS IN THE DRUG SUPPLY AND THE NUMBER OF OVERDOSE DEATHS.

AND SO IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO CHANGE AGAIN IN THE NEXT COMING YEARS AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE DATA TO KNOW HOW THE OVERDOSE EPIDEMIC IS CHANGING AND THEN WE CAN, YOU KNOW, CHANGE PRIORITIES AND CHANGE INITIATIVES AS NECESSARY.

>> WE HAVE BEEN SPEAKING WITH STATE OFFICE OF ADDICTIONS SUPPORT SERVICES AND COMMISSIONER Dr. CUNNINGHAM.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME ON.

>> AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND ADVISORY'S BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS AND HOW THE STATE SHOULD INVEST THE REST OF ITS WINDFALL, WHICH WILL BE WORTH MORE THAN TWO BILLION DOLLARS.

IN THE STUDIO WE HAVE FRANK KRUPPA, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH FOR TOMPKINS COUNTY, CHARLES JACKSON, OF THE SYRACUSE YOUTH SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION COALITION, AND JENNIFER PARMALEE, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES FOR ONONDAGA COUNTY.

JOINING US REMOTELY IS ASHLEY LIVINGSTON - A FRIEND OF THE CAPITOL PRESSROOM, MEMBER OF THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND ADVISORY BOAD, AND CO-CHAIR OF FRIENDS OF RECOVERY, WARREN AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES.

AND ASHLEY I WANT TO START OUR CONVERSATION BY GETTING YOUR TAKE ON WHY THIS SETTLEMENT BOARD MATTERS - WHY SHOULDN'T WE TRUST ELECTED OFFICIALS TO SPEND OPIOID SETTLEMENT MONEY, LIKE THEY'RE EMPOWERED TO SPEND BILLIONS OF OTHER DOLLARS?

>> I THINK THAT WHAT HAS HAPPENED HISTORICALLY IS EVIDENCE THAT WE NEED TO HAVE AN OVERSIGHT BOARD, YOU SNOW, WITH TOBACCO-- WITH TOBACCO AND OTHER LOTTERY MONIES, THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS ON THE UP AND UP IN ALBANY.

OR REALLY IN POLITICS.

SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE INDIVIDUALS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE, YOU KNOW, THAT ARE ON THE FRONT LINES REALLY TELLING, YOU KNOW, THE STATE LIKE HERE IS WHERE YOU ARE LACKING.

AND I WAS ONE OF THE ADVOCATES THAT ADVOCATED.

I REALLY WISHED WE WOULD HAVE HAD MORE INDIVIDUALS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE ON THE BOARD.

I AM THE ONLY INDIVIDUAL THAT IS ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS, INCARCERATED, TREATMENT FACILITIES, ALL OF THAT.

I'M A PEER, SO I REALLY DO WISH THAT WE HAD MORE PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE.

BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO KIND OF ENSURE THAT THIS MONEY GOES TOWARDS SAVING LIVES, BECAUSE EVERY CENT IS ATTACHED TO SOMEONE'S LIFE, RIGHT?

I HAVE LOST MORE FRIENDS THAN I CAN COUNT ON MY HANDS AND TOES.

AND THIS MONEY IS, YOU KNOW, NOT LIKE FREE MONEY.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES DIDN'T JUST SAY HEY, I THINK WE'LL GIVE YOU BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

NO, THEY KILLED BILLIONS OF PEOPLE.

AND THIS IS ESSENTIALLY A PAYOFF.

AND IT'S CONNECTED TO HUMAN LIFE.

SO WE CAN'T HAVE IT GOING TOWARDS ROADS AND BRIDGES.

THERE IS PLENTY OF GENERAL FUNDS AND OTHER GENERAL TAXES THAT CAN GO TO THAT.

THIS REALLY NEEDS TO GO INTO ENSURING THAT WE DON'T LOSE ANYMORE LIVES 678 I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY HAS SEEN THE NUMBERS BUT THE NATION IS FLAT LINING AND NEW YORK IS STILL SPIKING: I'M SICK OF GOING TO FUNERALS AND THAT'S WHY THIS BOARD IS IMPORTANT.

>> ASHLEY, WE HEARD PRETTY EXTENSIVELY FROM THE COMMISSIONER ABOUT WHAT SHE ENVISIONS WITH THE HARM REDUCTION INVESTMENTS.

THERE IS ALSO BIG INVESTMENTS IDENTIFIED IN TERMS OF PRIORITY POPULATIONS, TREATMENT AS WELL AS INVESTMENTS ACROSS THE CONTINUUM OF CARE.

CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT IS ENVISIONED, BROADLY SPEAKING FOR THOSE AREAS?

BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE WHO DON'T NECESSARILY LIVE AND BREATHE THESE ISSUES MIGHT NOT HAVE A GOOD IDEA ABOUT WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

AND CAN YOU INTRODUCE US TO YOUR DOG AS WELL?

>> HERE, I'LL LET YOU MEET JULIETT.

THAT'S JULIETT.

THE OTHER ONE IS OUT THE WINDOW.

ROSCO.

THEY'RE MY LIFE.

SO, ALL RIGHT.

PRIORITY.

WE REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON ESSENTIALLY MINORITIES ARE BEING IMPACTED AND SO WE WANTED TO FOCUS ON THAT.

INDIVIDUALS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES ARE BEING IMPACTED MORE AS WELL SO WE WANTED TO FOCUS ON THAT.

WOMEN AND CHILDREN SO I DON'T KNOW-- WE HAVE VERY FEW WOMEN AND CHILDREN PROGRAMS AND THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN PROGRAMS THAT CURRENTLY EXIST, YOU CAN ONLY HAVE YOUR CHILD IF THEY'RE UNDER A CERTAIN AGE.

SO SOMETHING LIKE WE BROUGHT UP, SORT OF-- I ACTUALLY, FROM A LOCAL WOMAN RESIDENT AND TALKING WITH THEM, I TOOK SUGGESTIONS.

SO LIKE THE SUGGESTIONS I BROUGHT TO THE TABLE WERE NOT JUST HEY, THIS IS WHAT ASHLEY THINKS.

NO, LIKE I GO OUT AND I TALK TO MY COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

I TALK TO THE CONSUMERS OF THE SERVICES.

AND SO THEY'RE LACKING A LOT OF SERVICES, RIGHT?

WE DON'T HAVE A METHADONE CLINIC IN MY AREA.

MY PEOPLE HAVE TO GO AN HOUR AND A HALF NORTH OR AN HOUR SOUTH.

SO WE ARE LACKING A LOT OF THINGS.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY WAS WATCHING THE MEETINGS, BUT THAT TREATMENT DESERT THAT WAS SHOWN, THAT IS WHERE I LIVE.

WE HAVE VERY FEW RESIDENTIAL-- WE HAVE LIKE THREE OUTPATIENT.

WE HAVE NO INPATIENT AND THEN IN TERMS OF TREATMENT, YOU KNOW, HISTORICALLY IT HAS BEEN OPPRESSIVE AND PUNITIVE.

AND WE REALLY WANT TO REALLY NOT DO THAT.

WE WANT TO EMBRACE THE HOLISTIC PIECE SO SOME OF THE THINGS I BROUGHT UP NUMEROUS TIMES, I BROUGHT UP HERE LIKE HAVING A BAN ON TOBACCO I THINK IS RIDICULOUS.

JUST DIFFERENT THINGS.

SO LIKE REALLY BEING ABLE TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE AT.

TRANSPORTATION IS HUGE.

SO IT'S SOMETHING I STRESS ALL THE TIME.

TO GO FROM THE NORTHERN MOST TIP OF MY COUNTY, JUST THE COUNTY I LIVE IN, WARREN COUNTY, TO GO TO THE SOUTHERN MOST TIP IS ABOUT AN HOUR AND CHANGE.

AND SO THEN WHEN YOU ADD IN WASHINGTON COUNTY BECAUSE WE ARE ONE LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL UNIT, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT LIKE THREE HOURS-- YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN SO THE POPULATION IS PRED OUT SO RURAL COMMUNITIES, YOU NEED PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE TRANSPORTATION.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THEY CAN TAKE MEDI-CAB.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE MEDICAID.

SOME PEOPLE HAVE MEDICARE AND MEDICARE DOESN'T COVER TRANSPORTATION.

SOME HAVE PRIVATE INSURANCE.

BUT IT'S REALLY ABOUT LIKE THAT SOCIAL PIECE, BEING ABLE TO GET HEALTHY FOODS.

LIKE WE TALK ABOUT A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS ALL HAVE YOU TO CHANGE IS EVERYTHING IN RECOVERY.

SO LIKE, OKAY HOW ARE THEY GETTING THE HEALTHY FOODS?

HOW ARE THEY GETTING TO WORK?

ALL OF THESE THINGS.

TRANSPORTATION.

AND THEN HOUSING.

SHE WANTS TO BE COVERED UP.

>> I THINK YOU GAVE US A PRETTY GOOD START THERE SO WE'LL LET YOU HANG OUT WITH THE DOG AND WE'LL TURN TO FRANK.

FRANK, HOW DO THE TOP PRIORITIES THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BY THE STATE OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND ADVISE ARE I BOARD COMPARE TO WHAT YOU THINK ARE TO THE NEEDS IN TOMPKINS COUNTY?

ARE THEY ESPOUSING THE SAME PRIORITIES?

>> SURE.

I'M VERY THANKFUL THAT ASHLEY WAS ON THE BOARD, HAVING HEARD HER JUST SPEAK HERE BECAUSE EVERYTHING SHE IS SAYING IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED DECISION MAKERS HEARING ABOUT THE PROCESS.

SO THANK YOU TO HER FOR SERVING.

BUT YES, I THINK IN TOMPKINS COUNTY, PARTICULARLY AROUND HARM REDUCTION, WE HAVE TAKEN A PRETTY STRONG STANCE AS A COMMUNITY THAT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING FOR ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE DYING, RIGHT?

I THINK WE CAN ALL RECOGNIZE THAT THE OPIOID ISSUE IS A LARGE ONE AND IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT TO SOLVE AND THERE IS A LOT OF RESOURCES THAT ARE GOING TO BE NEEDED AND IN THE MEANTIME, WE HAVE TO STOP PEOPLE FROM DYING AND THAT'S REALLY WHERE THE HARM REDUCTION PIECE COMES IN.

AND I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT OUR DATA, PARTICULARLY PRE-COVID, WE HAVE SMEN SIMILAR SPIKES IN OVERDOSE AND OVERDOSE DEATHS AND IN 2018 AND 2019, OUR NUMBERS STARTED TO TREND DOWN.

>> ONCE THEY DECLARED THE THE NATIONAL HEALTH EMERGENCY IN 2017.

>> FLOODING NALOXONE INTO THE SYSTEM.

WE HAD A NEW PROVIDER THAT TOOK A STRONG STANCE ON SUBOXONE PRESCRIBING, REALLY BEFORE THE REST OF US WERE READY TO DO THAT.

AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, MYSELF AND SOME OF THE OTHER PROVIDERS IN THE COMMUNITY BALKED A LITTLE AS THEY WERE COMING INTO THEIR OWN AND STARTING UP THAT PROGRAM BUTTITE SAVED LIVES.

IT GOT PEOPLE STREAM THAT THEY NEEDED IN THE MOMENT AND KEPT THEM ALIVE AND HOPES THAT WE CAN BUILD A SYSTEM THAT MEETS THEIR NEEDS FOR WHEN THEY'RE READY TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP INTO RECOVERY.

>> YOU HIGHLIGHTED HARM REDUCTION.

ONE OF THE ELEMENTS OF THE HARM REDUCTION RECOMMENDATIONS IS OVERDOSE PREVENTION CENTERS WHICH WE TALKED WITH THE COMMISSIONER ABOUT.

AND YOU MENTIONED HOW THERE WERE CERTAIN POLICIES THAT MAYBE YOU GUYS WERE NOT SUPER COMFORTABLE WITH, BUT THEN SEEING THE BENEFITS SINCE THEN.

ARE OVERDOSE PREVENTION CENTERS SOMETHING THAT FITS THAT DISCRIMINATION OR ARE PEOPLE IN TOMPKINS COUNTY READY AND WILLING TO ROLL OUT THIS CONTROVERSIAL POLICY?

>> YEAH, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT READY AND WILLING.

BUT I THINK WE WERE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO: THERE WAS A PLANNING PROCESS AROUND OVERDOSES THAT WE UNDERTOOK IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ONE OF THE KEY THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF THAT WAS THE NEED FOR SUPERVISED INJECTION FACILITIES.

ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WITH THAT IS THAT THAT ISSUE BEING CONTROVERSIAL, THE WAY THAT IT WAS, IT KIND OF CONSUMED ALL OF THE OTHER PLANS THAT WERE PUT FORTH, YOU KNOW, AS OPTIONS AND SO I THINK AS A COMMUNITY, WE HAVE HAD THE CONVERSATION.

I THINK THERE IS A WILLINGNESS AND HONESTLY I EXPECT ANY DAY NOW WE WILL HAVE A NON-PROFIT THAT IS INTERESTED IN TRYING TO OPERATE ONE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND WE WILL HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AGAIN I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT WE NEED EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND THAT OUR GOAL HERE IS SAVE LIVES.

WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP PEOPLE ALIVE LONG ENOUGH SO WE CAN CORRECT AND BUILD A SIS SYSTEM THAT WILL MEET THEIR NEEDS.

WE ARE NOT THERE YET.

UNTIL WE ARE THERE, WE ARE OBLIGATED TO TRY TO HELP THESE FOLKS AND THESE HARM REDUCTION METHODS ARE THAT PROCESS.

>> ANYONE HAVE RESERVATIONS ABOUT HARM REDUCTION AS WE'VE HEARD IT DESCRIBED BY FRANK, ASHLEY, Dr. CUNNINGHAM?

, CHARLES, JENNIFER, WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK?

>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY FIRST OF ALL I'M SO EXCITED ASHLEY YOU WERE ON THE ADVISORY BOARD AS WELL.

I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

AND IN ONONDAGA COUNTY, WE TOOK VERY SERIOUSLY THE IMPACT THE FUNDING COMING DOWN, AND WE WANTED TO HAVE IT BE A VERY COLLABORATIVE PROCESS SO WE ESTABLISHED AN RFP PROCESS AND WE HAD AN RFP COMMITTEE COME TOGETHER TO DETERMINE ITS PRIORITIES AND THEY'RE VERY WELL ALIGNED AS WELL WITH WHAT THE STATE ADVISORY BOARD HAS EXPRESSED.

SO TREATMENT, PREVENTION, RECOVERY, HARM REDUCTION, ABATEMENT SO WE HAVE WORKED REALLY, REALLY HARD AS A COMMUNITY TO PUSH OUT HARM REDUCTION AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, YOU KNOW, THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF NARCAN DOSES AND TRAININGS AND FENTANYL TEST STRIPS, LIKE IN THE LAST YEAR WE HAVE, AS A WHOLE COMMUNITY, THE COUNTY AS WELL AS OUR PROVIDERS HAVE WORKED DILIGENTLY TO GET OUT AS MANY TEST STRIPS AS WE CAN TO SAVE LIVES.

THE GOAL HERE IS TO SAVE LIVES.

AND THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT TREATMENT AND RECOVERY HAPPENS IS IF PEOPLE ARE ALIVE.

WE ARE VERY DEDICATED TO THAT HERE IN ONONDAGA COUNTY.

OUR PROVIDERS ARE VERY DEDICATED TO THAT.

I'M THE CO-CHAIR OF OUR DRUG TASK FORCE, THE ONONDAGA COUNTY DRUG TASK FORCE AND THAT HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT CONVERSATION AND EFFORTS THAT WE HAVE WORKED ON SO IT DOES ALIGN VERY SIGNIFICANTLY WITH WHERE THE COUNTY IS.

>> CHARLES, I THINK THAT 7% OF THE MONEY THAT THE STATE IS RECOMMENDING BE SPENT IS GOING TOWARD PREVENTION AND THAT SEEMS TO BE YOUR AREA OF FOCUS FROM YOUTH.

WHAT DOES PREVENTION LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF INVESTMENTS PAY OFF DOWN THE ROAD AND ARE NOT WASTING MONEY LIKE ARE I THINK THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DARE PROGRAM BEING A MEANINGFUL INVESTMENT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK PREVENTION ON A MEANINGFUL BASIS LOOKS LIKE?

>> FIRST, I WANT TO THANK ASHLEY FOR BEING PART OF THE-- I MEAN IN A PREVIOUS LIFE I USED TO WORK FOR A CONGRESSIONAL MEMBER AS A STAFFER.

AND LAWMAKERS TRY THEIR BEST TO GET THINGS RIGHT BUT THEY HAVE TO BE ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE AND KNOW EVERYTHING AND TYPICALLY THEY WRITE LAWS THAT KIND OF MAKE SENSE TO THEM.

BUT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ON THE GROUND 100% OF THE TIME, SOMETHING LIKE THIS CAN ALLOW FOR FUNDING AND POLICIES TO PIVOT AS SOON AS THINGS CHANGE.

AS FOR-- AND THEN I THINK ALSO THE PROBLEM WITH HARM REDUCTION CONVERSATION IS IT LEAVES A LOT OUT.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, I KNOW OASAS HAS HARM REDUCTION PROGRAMS WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO HOMELESS SHELTERS AND WORKING WITH FOLKS.

THEY'RE GOING OUT IN THE STREETS AND TRYING TO HELP WITH PEOPLE ALL ACROSS THE STATE AND I THINK IT GETS OVERSHADOWED BY SOME OF THESE CONTROVERSIAL PROGRAMS.

SO AT PREVENTION NETWORK, WE LOOK AT IT THE SAME WAY THE STATE DOES, IT'S A CONTINUUM MONEY SPENT AND EVERY SINGLE FACET IS GOING TO BE HELPFUL SO, YOU KNOW, WITH PREVENTION WE LOOK AT, SO, FOR EXAMPLE, PREVENTION NETWORK HAS CHAINED 1300 PEOPLE IN NARCAN THEY HAVE TRAINED.

THAT'S HUGE AND THAT'S SINCE 2019.

WE ARE PUTTING NARCAN BOXES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

THUS FAR WE, SINCE IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, WE HAVE GOTTEN MESSAGES THAT THOSE BOXES HAVE SAVED 21 PEOPLE'S LIVES.

AND SO EVERY PART OF THIS FUNDING IS IMPORTANT.

NOW, BECAUSE WE HAVE A GROUP THAT IS GOING TO OVERSEE THIS, YOU CAN TWEAK IT AS THINGS GO, BUT THE FACT THAT THERE IS THIS CONCERTED EFFORT OUT THERE AND THEY'RE TRYING TO TARGET SPECIFIC AREAS, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE ACROSS THE NATION, WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT DEMOGRAPHICS, OVERALL, IN MOST COMMUNITIES, THE OVERDOSE HAS KIND OF FLAT LINED.

BUT NOW IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES, IT'S STARTING TO RISE.

THIS MONEY IS SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT INVESTMENTS ON TOP OF WHAT STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE ALREADY SPENDING.

SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE OUTREACH DONE ALREADY TRAININGS OR NARCAN AVAILABILITY.

WOULD YOU WANT TO SEE THE MONEY GO TO AN EXPANSION OF THE EXISTING EFFORTS OR ARE THERE PROGRAMS AND IDEAS THAT YOU ARE JUST HOPING TO TRY AND YOU ARE JUST WAITING FOR THE MONEY?

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEND MONEY IF IT TRICKLES DOWN TO YOU?

>> BECAUSE I'M IN PREVENTION, I WOULD ALWAYS GO PREVENTION: LIKE ANY OTHER THING MONEY SPENT ON PREVENTION MEANS LESS MONEY SPENT ON OTHER AREAS.

SO I WOULD ALWAYS, YOU KNOW LOOK TOWARDS THAT.

THERE ARE TONS OF STUDIES THAT TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, A YOUNG PERSON WHO HAS USED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS IN HIGH SCHOOL, 33% CHANCE THAT BY 24, THAT THEY MIGHT BE OPIATE USER OR MISUSER.

AND SO OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE HOW IS THE NEW CANNABIS LAW GOING TO AFFECT, YOU KNOW THE OPIATE TREND?

IN TERMS OF YOUNG PEOPLE AS THEY GET HOLDER?

SO I WOULD ALWAYS LOOK AT THAT.

>> AND WHEN YOU THINK OF PREVENTION, DOES THAT INCLUDE A ROLE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT?

AND IF SO, SHOULD SOME OF THE SETTLEMENT MONEY WHICH I THINK IS SUPPOSED TO BE RESIGNED FOR ABATEMENT, TREATMENT AND PREVENTION, SHOULD ANY OF IT GO TOWARDS LAW ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS?

>> >> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.

THE ONLY REASON I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE WHAT IS LAW ENFORCEMENT GOING TO DO WITH THE MONEY?

HOW ARE THEY GOING TO USE IT?

I KNOW THAT IN A LOT OF COMMUNITIES WHEN THEY FIRST STARTED ALLOWING FIRST RESPONDERS TO USE NARCAN AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THERE WAS A BIG UPROAR AND LIKE HOW COULD YOU DO THAT AND THINGS LIKE THAT BUT HOW ARE THEY GOING TO USE IT?

IS IT GOING TO BE GOING BACK TO THE 80s AND 90S OF OVER POLICING AND ARRESTING?

IS IT GOING TO BE USED IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO HIRE SOCIAL SERVICE FOLKS AND RECOVERY PROFESSIONALS?

SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.

>> ASHLEY, HOW ARE YOU FEELING ABOUT THIS PROCESS AS WE TALK A FEW WEEKS AFTER THE RECOMMENDATIONS CAME DOWN?

DOES IT SEEM LIKE THESE ARE GOING TO INFLUENCE THE WAY STATE FUNDS ARE ACTUALLY UTILIZED?

ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT STATE LAWMAKERS AND GOVERNOR HOCHUL WILL SAY THANKS BUT NO THANKS.

WE ARE GOING TO DO WHAT WE WANT DO?

AND WHAT DOES THE ACCOUNTABILITY LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE?

>> SO I JUST WANT TO SAY FIRST BEFORE I ANSWER THAT QUESTION, THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING REACH.

I WILL SAY THEY HAVE BEEN A GOD SEND FOR MY AREA ALSO BECAUSE I REFER PEOPLE TO THEM, WHAT THEY DO IS LIFE SAVING AND AMAZING.

BUT, SO AM I CONCERNED?

YES AND NO.

I FEEL LIKE I'M CONCERNED ENOUGH TO BE ADVOCATING AS AN INDIVIDUAL, NOT TASS A BOARD MEMBER.

AND I KNOW THERE ARE OTHER ADVOCATES OUT THERE ADVOCATING AS WELL WHICH IS NORMAL.

WHENEVER BUDGET IS GOING ON, IF YOU, YOU KNOW, WANT SOMETHING, THEN YOU NEED TO ADVOCATE.

AND SO I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY'RE GOING TO ADOPT ALL OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS.

I DO WISH THAT OUR GOVERNOR WOULD TAKE A STRONGER STANCE IN SUPPORTING EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES SUCH AS OVERDOSE PREVENTION CENTERS I ALSO WISH OUR COMMISSIONER WAS LIKE YES, THAT'S GREAT.

THIS IS WAS WE ARE DOING!

BUT I GET IT.

THEY'RE BUREAUCRATS AND LIKE CHARLES WAS JUST SAYING, THEY HAVE TO BE ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE BUT THEY ALSO NEED TO GET ELECTED AND SO IF IT IS CONTROVERSIAL, THEY'RE GOING TO PROBABLY CHOOSE POLITICS OVER PEOPLE WHICH, I DON'T UNDERSTAND, AND SO, YOU KNOW I THINK THAT WE HAVE THE BEST OPPORTUNITY HAVING INDIVIDUALS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE OUT PUSHING AND YOU KNOW, ENGAGING THE LEGISLATURE AND LETTING THEM KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON AND LETTING THEM KNOW THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO DO I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE EVERYTHING?

NO I AM CONCERNED, I'M STILL CONCERNED.

I APPRECIATE YOUR QUESTION TO COMMISSIONER CUNNINGHAM ON THE MATTERS PROGRAM BECAUSE I AM STILL CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT EQUITY AND DIFFERENT THINGS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE BUT I'M HOPEFUL THE LEGISLATURE WILL SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT?

THIS NEEDS TO GO THROUGH A COMPETITIVE PROCESS LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE BECAUSE THERE MIGHT BE OTHER PROGRAMS OUT THERE THAT CAN DO THE SAME THING I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GOING TO SAY NO, LIKE NEVER MIND.

THERE MAY BE SOMETHING I'M HEARING, YOU KNOW, LIKE I MENTIONED DOING A PILOT FOR TREATMENT AND I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN PUSH BACK LIKE WHAT?

AND I'M LIKE WELL, THEY HAVE BEEN DOING IT IN OTHER COUNTRIES, GERMANY AND CANADA LIKE AMERICA IS SO FAR BEHIND IN SO MANY THINGS.

AND IT'S OUR POLITICS THAT GET IN THE WAY.

AND I WISH THAT SOCIAL WELFARE WAS NOT AND PUBLIC HEALTH WAS NOT IN THE POLITICAL ARENA, BUT IT IS.

AND SO YOU KNOW, THE SOONER THAT WE STOP PUTTING POLITICS IN THE WAY OF PEOPLE, I THINK WE WILL BE A LOT BETTER, BUT DO I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO ADOPT EVERYTHING?

MAYBE NOT.

I'M GOING TO PUSH AS HARD AS I POSSIBLY CAN AND I KNOW THERE ARE OTHER ADVOCATES OUT THERE THAT ARE GOING TO PUSH AS HARD AS THEY CAN BUT I REALLY WANT THEM TO COME OUT AND BE COMMITTED AT LEAST TO OVERDOSE PREVENTION CENTERS.

>> REASON EXPECTATIONS WE SHOULD HAVE FOR THIS MONEY.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT $2 BILLION AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE TRENDS HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION 2018 AND 2019, SPIKES IN OPIOID OVERDOSE DEATHS IN 2020 AND 2021, IS IT REASONABLE TO EXPECT THAT 2023 SHOULD BE HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND WE SHOULD SOLVE THIS PROGRAM, THIS PROBLEM BY 2025?

WHAT MAKES SENSE?

>> YEAH, I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYONE SHOULD EXPECT THAT WE ARE GOING TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS PT.

THAT'S THAT'S JUST NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

WAS WE SHOULD BE LOOKING TO IS WHERE HAVE WE SEEN IMPROVEMENT AND WHAT CAUSED THOSE IMPROVEMENTS AND HOW DO WE REPLICATE THAT IN OTHER PLACES?

I THINK ONE OF THE HOPES THAT I HAVE FROM THE STATE DELIVERY OF THOSE MONIES IS THAT THEY ALLOW AS MUCH LOCAL APPROACH AS POSSIBLE, RIGHT?

WHAT YOU NEED IN THE NORTH COUNTRY VERSUS WHAT YOU NEED IN BUFFALO ARE TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND THE STATE IS KIND OF IN THE CHALLENGING POSITION OF TRYING TO ADDRESS THE WIDE RANGE OF POTENTIAL AND AS MUCH FLEXIBILITY AS THEY CAN PROVIDE SENDING THE FUNDING OUT TO COMMUNITIES, I THINK IS REALLY WHAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR FROM THEM AND THEN AND A WILLINGNESS TO TO SEE WHAT HAS WORKED.

I THINK CHARLES MENTIONED THAT BEING ABLE TO ADAPT AS THINGS UNFOLD, THAT'S REALLY GOING TO BE PORE,-- IMPORTANT, TOO.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE PERFECT EVERYWHERE.

WE ARE CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM IN THE SHORT-TERM.

BUT WE SHOULD START TO SEE IMPROVEMENTS ACROSS THE STATE.

AND IT WILL BE REALLY IMPORTANT TO EVALUATE WHY THOSE IMPROVEMENTS OCCURRED, LOOK IF IT'S REPLICABLE IN OTHER PLACES AND TAILOR OUR RESOURCE ALLOCATIONS TO THOSE AREAS.

>> JENNIFER, SPEAKING TO THIS IDEA OF THE UNIQUE NATURE OF THE PRODUCE BE THAT DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES FACE, HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK, THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM ESPECIALLY ON A PER CAPITA BASIS.

SO WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE CENTRAL NEW YORK REGION THAT CRBED TO THE SPIKE THAT WE ARE SEEING AND IS THERE A CLEAR SOLUTION THAT IS UNIQUE TO THE CENTRAL NEW YORK REGION?

>> THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.

>> THANK YOU.

YOU KNOW, THE WORK OF THE DRUG TASK FORCE HAS BEEN VERY HEAVILY FOCUSED ON, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS HERE.

AND WE HAVE SEEN THE SAME THAT HAS HAPPENED ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND ACROSS THE BOARD AND I THINK WE'VE SEEN IT AT A DIFFERENT ELECTRICAL OF INTENSITY AND SO REALLY THE WORK IS ALL ABOUT HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT WE ARE YOU KNOW, GETTING TO INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY BE STRUGGLING.

HOW DO WE ENGAGE WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND MEET THEM, LIKE ASHLEY WAS SAYING, HOW DO YOU MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE AT AND DO WHAT IT IS THEY NEED IN THAT MOMENT AND THAT TAKES ALL OF US COMING TOGETHER AND MAKING SURE SHAT WE ARE NIMBLE AS A SYSTEM.

WE DON'T SET PROGRAMS UP TO DO WHAT THE PROGRAM WANTS TO DO AND JUST CEECH DOING THAT.

WE Y'ALL HAVE TO HAVE THE SENSE OF UNDERSTANDING THE POPULATION, ITS NEEDS AND BEING ABLE TO SHIFT AND NEED IN CREATIVE WAYS.

SO I THINK SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN REALLY EXCITING HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK IS OUR ABILITY TO SHIFT AND MOVE AND DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY SO THAT WE CAN.

>> DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE SEEN A COORDINATED APPROACH FROM THE STATE ON DOWN TO MUNICIPALITIES TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ON THE GROUND?

>> THERE IS DEFINITELY COORDINATION.

AND BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A SIGNIFICANT NEED AND SO MANY-- LIKE ONONDAGA IS RESOURCE RICH IN A LOT OF WAYS AND AT THE SAME TIME BECAUSE OF ALL OF THAT RICHNESS, IT CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT TO COORDINATE SO THERE IS ALWAYS MORE WORK THAT WE CAN DO TO BETTER COORDINATE.

LY SAY THAT WE HAVE A REALLY-- I WILL SAY WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS GROUP OF TREMENDOUS PROVIDERS AND SERVICES AND PEERS THAT WANT TO SEE US DO A BETTER JOB AS A COMMUNITY TO COORDINATE.

SO I THINK AS I SAID, I THINK THERE IS A FOUNDATION OF COORDINATION AND MORE THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN ORDER TO SAVE MORE LIVES.

>> I THINK THAT OUR RESOURCE RICHNESS WORKS AGAINST US IN SOME RESPECTS BECAUSE WHERE CENTRAL NEW YORK IS RELATIVELY SPEAKING, AROUND US THERE IS NOT A WHOLE LOT SO PEOPLE FLOOD THE AREA BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY CAN GET THE SERVICES THEY CAN'T GET OTHER PLACES.

ANOTHER THING IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LONG HISTORY OF-- I'M AN URBAN GUY.

I LOVE LIVING IN A CITY.

I'VE ALWAYS LIVED IN THE CITIES OR SUBURBS OR THINGS LIKE THAT AND THERE ARE SOME ADVANTAGES OF DOING SO, LIVING IN CITIES.

BUT BECAUSE OF HOW PERVASIVE THE ISSUE IS IN RURAL AREAS, ONE OF MY CONCERNS ARE WHEN IT COMES TO MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HOW MONEY IS BEING DRAINED FROM CERTAIN MEDICAL FACILITIES, HOW IS THAT GOING TO IMPACT WHAT HAPPENS IN TERMS OF RESPONSES TO OVERDOSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT?

SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SEEING THAT ON THE HEALTH AND HOSPITAL SIDE, HOW ARE THEY GOING TO BE ABLE TO ADD TO WHAT IS BEING DONE IN TERMS OF OVERDOSES.

>> WE HAVE A MIX IN TOMPKINS COUNTY OF URBAN RURAL AND SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES.

HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT SHEPHERDING RESOURCES SO THAT COMMUNITIES CAN BE SERVED AND YOU CAN MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE OPPOSED TO LIKE ASHLEY SAID, MAKING THEM TRAVEL FOR LONG DISTANCES WHICH CAN BE A BARRIER TO SEEKING TREATMENT OR FINISHING RECOVERY?

>> IT'S ABSOLUTELY AN ISSUE AND I'M NOT GOING TO PRETEND WE HAVE SOLVED THAT EITHER.

WE HAVE OUR URBAN CENTER IN ITHACA AND SURROUNDED BY LARGE RURAL PARTS OF THE COUNTY AND BEYOND THE COUNTIES THAT SURROUND US.

I THINK ONE OF THE APPROACHES THAT WE HAVE TAKEN IS WE ARE TRYING TO BUILD A CONTINUUM OF CARE RIGHT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IT IS AN HOUR RIDE FROM ITHACA TO SYRACUSE TO BINGHAMTON TO ELMIRA TO SEEK OTHER THINGS WA.

WE DON'T HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE REALLY DON'T HAVE.

SO WE HAVE PROVIDERS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW HOPING TO OPEN A DETOX AND MEDICAL STABILIZATION FACILITY IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF IN EXYEAR WITH ONE OF OUR OASAS PROVIDERS.

ANOTHER IS BUILDING A 25-BED WOMEN'S FACILITY INPATIENT.

THEY HAVE ADDED METHADONE TREATMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

ALL THINGS THAT EVEN JUST-- SOME ARE NOT OPERATIONAL YET AND ARE IN THE FUTURE, BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE EVEN JUST A FEW YEARS AGO SO I THINK WAS WE HAVE IDENTIFIED IS THAT WE HAVE TO BUILD THAT CONTINUUM IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THEN WE CAN FOCUS ON GETTING PARTICULARLY THE RURAL PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY, TO THOSE RESOURCES.

AND THANKFULLY SOME OF THESE FACILITIES ARE ACTUALLY IN THE RURAL PARTS OF OUR COUNTY.

SO ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE ARE FACING NOW IS WE HAVE OUR CITY CENTER.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET FOLKS TO THE FACILITIES THAT ARE IN, YOU KNOW, THE OUTSKIRTS.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE, DO YOU HAVE THE WORKFORCE TO STAFF IT?

>> THAT'S THE NEXT QUESTION, RIGHT?

>> NOT YET.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR THOSE ASKERS AND ACTIVELY TRYING TO FIND THE STAFF AND IT'S CHALLENGING.

NO DOUBT.

THAT'S AFFECTING THE ENTIRE SYSTEM.

I MEAN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS BEING A BIG PROBLEM, OUR EMS PROVIDERS ARE STRUGGLING BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO RESPOND TO SO MANY OVERDOSE CALLS THAT THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THE STAFF OR RESOURCES TO MEET THE DEMAND FOR 911 CALL RESPONSE: IT'S A VERY BIG ISSUE.

>> CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE SETTLEMENT ADVISORY BOARD'S RECOMMENDATIONS PART OF THE CONTINUUM OF CARE RECOMMENDATIONS?

>> SO WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT A LACK OF WORKFORCE AND INCENTIVES IS AN ISSUE ACROSS THE CONTINUUM.

SO WHEN YOU SEE THE PERCENTAGE OF INVESTMENT ACROSS THE CONTINUUM, THAT INCLUDES SCHOLARSHIPS SO WE THOUGHT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, INCENTIVES SO RETENTION, STUFF LIKE THAT, INCREASING, YOU KNOW, PAY BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES LIKE WE ARE NOT ABLE TO KEEP PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY CAN GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

AND, YOU KNOW INTO A PRIVATE WHATEVER AND GET PAID MORE THOSE ARE ISSUES THAT WE ARE HOPING THESE MONIES WILL ADDRESS.

BURNOUT IS HUGE, TOO.

SOMETHING I WAS BRINGING UP BECAUSE I'VE SEEN IT ALLOT AMONG OTHER COLLEAGUES WITH BURNOUT THAT WAS HUGE IN COVID.

WE LOST SO MANY PEOPLE AND WE WERE ON THE FRONT LINES.

I WAS DOING NARCAN TRAINING AND HANDING OUT FLAL TEST TRIPSES IN IN THE PARKING LOT BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT ANYMORE OF MY PEOPLE TO DIE.

REALLY DOING MORE, WE TALKED ABOUT HAVING AN ANONYMOUS LINE FOR PEERS TO CALL OR ANY PROFESSIONAL REALLY WORKING BUT TO CALL NOT HAVE IT AFFILIATED WITH THEIR SETTING BUT GET IT OUT.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL END UP HAPPENING BUT I HOPE IT DOES.

WE NEED TO DO MORE TO ESPECIALLY SURE THE SELF CARE AND WELLNESS OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE DO HAVE THE IN WORKFORCE.

BECAUSE OFTEN TIMES IT'S NOT DONE BECAUSE WE ARE ALWAYS SO BUSY PUTTING OUT FIRES EVERYWHERE.

THAT THE STAFF ARE LEFT TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES.

AND WHEN YOUR CUP IS EMPTY, NO GOOD.

>> JENNIFER, WE HAVE BEEN FOCUSING THIS CONVERSATION ON STATE FUNDS, BUT IN THIS YEAR'S STATE BUDGET, IS THE $64 MILLION FOR MUNICIPALITIES.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HOW TO UTILIZE FUNDING LIKE THIS, THIS WINDFALL MONEY, IS IT IN INVESTMENTS CAPITAL INVESTMENTS?

IS IT ABOUT GETTING PROGRAMS STARTED?

OR DO YOU SEE THIS AS OPERATING FUNDS THAT YOU CAN USE MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE YOU, FINGERS CROSSED, WILL BE GETTING MORE MONEY EVERY YEAR FROM THE STATE AS PART OF THE SETTLEMENTS?

>> THIS FIRST ROUND, THE COUNTY GOT ABOUT $3.7 MILLION.

AND THAT'S-- WHEN THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE BROUGHT A COMMITTEE TOGETHER, THE RFP COMMITTEE THAT HAD A BROAD SPECTRUM OF INDIVIDUALS, SOME PROVIDERS, CO-CHAIRS OF THE DRUG TASK FORCE WERE THERE INDIVIDUALS THAT CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THE POPULATION SO WE WORKED WITH DEFINE HOW IT IS THAT WE WANTED THESE DOLLARS TO BE SPENT AS A COMMUNITY AND THE COMMITTEE CAME UP WITH AN ALIGN MANY WITH THE STATE ADVISORY BOARD, AND SO WE HAVE A LOT MORE MONEY REQUESTED IN THE RFP THAN WE WERE ABLE TO AWARD.

WE HAD SOME REALLY EXCITING AND PHENOMENAL PROGRAMS.

WE TRIED TO AWARD THE FUNDS BASED ON THOSE PILLARS SO I THINK WE HAVE DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB WE ARE LOOKING TO ADDITIONAL FUNDING COMING BACK TO THE COUNTY.

AND I DO THINK THAT THE LOCAL FOCUSING AT THE LOCAL LEVEL IS ESSENTIAL AS YOU ARE SPEAKING, FRANK, I'M THINKING ABOUT, WE HAVE DETOX.

WE HAVE INPATIENT AND ASHLEY, TOO.

WE HAVE MULTIPLE PROVIDERS WITH PEERS THAT ARE OUTREACHING INTO THE COMMUNITY MULTIPLE PROVIDERS ABLE TO PROVIDE MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT, METHADONE AND SUBOXONE.

THR THINGS WITHIN OUR COUNTY THAT REALLY PROVIDE A SIGNIFICANT ELECTRICAL OF STRENGTH AND AS YOU ARE SAYING CHARLES WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS FROM OUTSIDE OF OUR COMMUNITY COME IN BECAUSE OF THE RESOURCES AND NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IN ONONDAGA COUNTY WE DO WHATEVER WE CAN FOR ANYONE WHO COMES TO US.

WE'RE BLESSED TO HAVE ALL INDIVIDUALS COME TO US.

AND SO TOMPKINS IS GOING TO NEED SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT AND PRIORITIZE SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENTLY THAN WHEN WE ARE IN ONONDAGA THAN WHERE WARREN, WASHINGTON, ERIE COUNTY, THAT KIND OF THING.

SO FOR US WE HAVE A GOOD STRONG FOUNDATION AND NOW WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHERE WE HAVE GAPS WITHIN OUR SERVICES AND THAT'S WHERE WE TRIED TO FUND THE $3.7 MILLION.

>> EYE HAVE TO GO TO THE PROMPTER IN A SECOND BUT HOPEFULLY WE CAN GO TO A WIDE SHOT OF THE STUDIO AND RAISE YOUR HANDS IF YOU ARE FEELING OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THINGS RIGHT NOW AND JUST KEEP YOUR HANDS DOWN IF YOU ARE NOT SUPER OPTIMISTIC ABOUT OUR ABILITY TO STEM THE TIDE WITH THIS OPIOID EPIDEMIC RIGHT NOW.

AND EVEN OUR REMOTE PARTICIPANT ASHLEY LIVINGTON HAS HER HANDS UP.

THAT'S A GOOD NOTE TO LEAVE THINGS ON FOR TODAY.

MY THANKS TO FRANK KRUPPA DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH FOR TOMPKINS COUNTY, CHARLES JACKSON, OF THE SYRACUSE YOUTH SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION COALITION, JENNIFER PARMALEE, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES FOR ONONDAGA COUNTY, AND ASHLEY LIVINGSTON, CO-CHAIR OF FRIENDS OF RECOVERY, WARREN AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES.

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ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE TEAM AT WCNY - I'M DAVID LOMBARDO - THANKS FOR WATCHING.