Opioid Crisis

International fentanyl trafficking will be declared a national emergency due to the passage of a bill co-sponsored by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is more powerful than heroin and kills hundreds of Long Islanders every year.

Part of CT's opioid settlement money could go to addressing the crisis’ effect on incarcerated people, many of whom struggle with addiction.

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) urged House Republicans to take up the National Security Act, which passed the Senate last month but is stalled in the House. The package includes legislation that aims to curb fentanyl trafficking and opioid overdose deaths in the U.S.

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney backs the bills to crack down on the fentanyl overdose epidemic. The bipartisan package would allow police to charge drug dealers with manslaughter.

Despite a recommendation from New York’s Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board, Governor Kathy Hochul’s administration has announced it will not be funding overdose prevention centers.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is calling for $290 million to be included in the next federal spending package to fund anti-drug initiatives following a recent increase in rainbow fentanyl.

Towns in Connecticut are deciding how to spend the National Opioid Settlement money they earned in a lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies.

Connecticut lawmakers are considering how to spend some of the state’s opioid settlement money. They are looking at funding supervised injection sites to help curb overdoses.

Suffolk County gets its first round of opioid settlement payments.

Suffolk County Executive Steven Bellone announced the first round of grant funding available after suing opioid manufacturers and distributors.