Governor Hochul Announces Availability of Up to $3.5 Million to Expand Treatment Services for Substance Use Disorder in New York State

Up to 15 OASAS-licensed providers will be awarded funding to develop integrated outpatient treatment programs, including integrating existing outpatient programs and Opioid Treatment Programs, developing new OTPs to integrate with outpatient services, and expanding access in outpatient OTPs in order to provide services to people who are not receiving medication for addiction.

Office of Addiction Services and Supports Commissioner Chinazo Cunningham said, "As the overdose crisis continues to affect individuals, families, and communities across the state, it is vitally important that we take steps to increase availability of these lifesaving services. This initiative will help people access medication to treat addiction, as well as other important help and resources to support them in their recovery."

A total of $3.5 million is available through this initiative, which can be used for several purposes, including building renovations, new equipment, training, and staff salaries. Funding will be provided through the Federal Substance Abuse Prevention & Treatment Block Grant Supplemental award and is being administered through OASAS. The RFA with further details on eligibility and other information is available here.

Representative Yvette Clarke said, "We cannot wait until moments of crisis to protect our communities and address the challenges many New Yorkers face when seeking treatment for substance abuse. Governor Kathy Hochul's action to establish Comprehensive Integrated Outpatient Treatment Programs will significantly help our citizens in need of addiction treatment and other related services. It is an important step in the right direction to meaningfully approach this long-standing epidemic in our communities that has led to needless tragedies. Sadly, our city has seen a dramatic increase in substance use and abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in young people. We must continue to work hand in hand to acknowledge the need for comprehensive treatment services, and adequately help those struggling with addiction. Governor Hochul's efforts to address this public health crisis is not just commendable, it is the right thing to do and I applaud her leadership in this arena."

Representative Paul Tonko said, "Across our state and nation, millions of Americans are struggling with the disease of addiction — a crisis that has become even more dire during this pandemic. For years, I've pushed in Congress to support programs that speak to this worsening crisis and deliver needed resources to our communities, including successfully delivering funding to the Federal Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant program through our American Rescue Plan. I'm grateful to Governor Hochul and OASAS for their unwavering work to bring hope and a path forward for our neighbors and loved ones who need it most."

State Senator Pete Harckham said, "The fight against the overdose crisis cannot be won with half-measures, which is why it is so important to increase our efforts in making outpatient treatment for substance use disorder more readily available. This new funding for treatment providers will broaden their efforts at offering evidence-based integrated care that will engage people and save lives, and I thank the Governor for strongly supporting this initiative."

Assemblymember Phil Steck said, "As chair of the Assembly Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, one of my goals has been to expand access to science-based medical treatments, including medications, for those suffering from substance use disorder. By increasing the current capacity levels of treatment facilities and adding additional programming, we will be able to lift more people out of the cycle of substance use. The current federal administration has shown their commitment to this goal by significantly increased funding for states, for which we are greatly appreciative."

Over the past several years, New York State has instituted an aggressive, multi-pronged approach to addressing the overdose epidemic, and created a nation-leading continuum of addiction care with full prevention, treatment, and recovery services. New York has worked to expand access to traditional services, including crisis services, inpatient, outpatient, and residential treatment programs, as well as medication to treat addiction, and mobile treatment and transportation services.

Governor Hochul was a member of the NYS Heroin and Opioid Task Force, which in 2016 recommended new, non-traditional services, including recovery centers, youth clubhouses, expanded peer services, and open access centers, which provide immediate assessments and referrals to care. These services have since been established in numerous communities around the state and have helped people in need access care closer to where they live.

New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope 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).

Available addiction treatment including crisis/detox, inpatient, residential, or outpatient care can be found using the NYS OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard at FindAddictionTreatment.ny.gov or through the NYS OASAS website.