Grants are the Latest Provided Through New York State’s Opioid Settlement Fund
More than $12 Million Awarded to Expand and Enhance Services at All Recovery Centers in the State
$6.6 Million to Support Connections to Wide Range of Services for Underserved and High-Need Populations.
More than $3.9 Million to Establish Prevention Coalitions in High-Need Counties
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the award of more than $22 million in funding for a wide array of addiction prevention, treatment, harm reduction and recovery services in New York State. These awards will support expansions to services at recovery centers, a new “Connections to Care” initiative to connect individuals in priority populations to services, and funding for providers to establish coalitions to address substance use and prevention in their communities. This funding is being distributed by the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports through the State’s Opioid Settlement Fund.
“The opioid and overdose epidemic has impacted far too many New Yorkers, and this settlement fund is an opportunity for us to hold manufacturers and distributors responsible for the devastating harm they have caused,” Governor Hochul said. “We continue to work with the Settlement Board to distribute this funding to the organizations and communities that need it most, so that they can continue their ongoing work to support those affected by the opioid crisis and save lives.”
New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham said. “This is vital funding that will provide an opportunity to establish new services, as well as expand and enhance existing services in order to provide a full continuum of addiction care throughout New York State. Our focus at OASAS is to make sure all New Yorkers have access to the services and supports they need to improve their health, no matter where they live or what level of help they need.”
New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “This investment into addiction treatment and prevention will save lives. By prioritizing underserved communities and high-needs individuals, we can help to ensure that the people who most need these services will be able to access them. These services will provide integrated, person-centered care that will focus on each person’s needs and goals.”
New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “Far too many New Yorkers and their family, friends, and communities have been impacted by the opioid epidemic. Directing these funds to create and enhance services for those struggling with opioid use disorder is the right thing to do. We will continue to work with Governor Hochul and our partners at OASAS to ensure everyone has equal access to compassionate care and lifesaving treatment that will create a path to healing and recovery.”
Recovery Community and Outreach Center Funding
More than $12 million is being awarded to Recovery Community and Outreach Centers across New York State to support their work to reach individuals in recovery. Recovery centers offer a community-based, non-clinical setting that is safe, welcoming and alcohol/drug-free for the whole community. The centers promote long-term recovery through skill-building, recreation, employment readiness and the opportunity to connect with peers who are going through similar challenges. They also provide health, wellness and other critical supports to people and families who are in recovery from a substance use disorder or who are seeking recovery information and resources.
All recovery centers operating with an annual budget under $535,000 were awarded funding to raise their budget to that amount for two years. A list of awardees and annual funding amounts is available here.
Connections to Care
A total of $6.6 million in annual funding is being awarded to 11 providers to support connections for underserved and high-need populations to care that will support long-term substance use disorder recovery and overall health, including harm reduction, physical and behavioral health services, and connections to transportation, supportive housing programs, and legal services.
Providers awarded funding will work to connect with populations including pregnant or postpartum women; transitional youth or individuals between the age of 18 and 25; individuals 55 or older; those diagnosed with or suspected of having a developmental disability, individuals returning to the community from incarceration, and those transitioning from stabilization and withdrawal services.
All awardees listed below are receiving $200,000 per year, for a three-year period.
Aging adults, or individuals aged 55 or older
- Argus Community Inc. (NYC & Long Island)
- Central Nassau Guidance and Counseling (Long Island)
Transitional youth, or individuals ages 18 through 25
- BestSelf Behavioral Health Inc. (Western NY)
Individuals diagnosed with or suspected to have a developmental disability
- Catholic Charities Family & Community (Finger Lakes)
Pregnant or postpartum persons
- Center for Comprehensive Health Practice (New York City)
- National Association on Drug Abuse Problems NYS Inc (NADAP) (New York City)
- Odyssey House Inc. (New York City)
Individuals returning to the community from a carceral setting
- Community Health Action of Staten Island (New York City)
- Osborne Treatment Services Inc. (New York City)
Individuals transitioning from stabilization/withdrawal services
- Council on Alcohol & Substance Abuse of Livingston County Inc. (CASA-Trinity) (Finger Lakes)
- Palladia Inc. (Services for the Underserved) (New York City)
Community Prevention Coalitions: Fentanyl, Opioids, Rx
More than $3.9 million in annual funding is also being awarded to support the development of community prevention coalitions. The coalitions will be geared specifically towards addressing fentanyl, opioids, and prescription drug misuse through evidence-based strategies, and raising awareness of harm reduction services. Examples of possible initiatives include the distribution of drug destruction kits and medication lock boxes to high-need populations, and the initiation or promotion of Take Back days, as well as distributing information and educating the public about the risks of substance use and available resources.
This funding targeted counties that were determined to have the highest need in the state for these services. Each provider is receiving funding in the amount listed below on an annual basis for four years.
Dutchess County
- Council on Addiction, Prevention, and Education of Dutchess County (CAPE) - $200,000
Greene County
- Columbia-Greene Addiction Coalition - $200,000
Sullivan County
- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Sullivan County - $200,000
Chautauqua County
- Prevention Works - $200,000
Ulster County
- Westchester-Ellenville Hospital, Inc - $178,419
New York State is receiving more than $2 billion through various settlement agreements with opioid manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies that were secured by Attorney General Letitia James. A portion of the funding from these settlements will go directly to municipalities, with the remainder deposited into a dedicated fund to support prevention, treatment, harm reduction and recovery efforts to address the ongoing opioid epidemic.
The same legislation that established the dedicated fund also created the Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board, which is tasked with making recommendations on how settlement dollars should be allocated to best serve those in need. Board members issued their first recommendations on November 1, 2022, identifying the expansion of harm reduction services and treatment as top priorities.
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, recovery, and harm reduction services. The state 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.
The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports oversees one of the nation’s largest substance use disorder systems of care with approximately 1,700 prevention, treatment and recovery programs serving over 731,000 individuals per year. This includes the direct operation of 12 Addiction Treatment Centers where our doctors, nurses, and clinical staff provide inpatient and residential services to approximately 8,000 individuals per year.
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.
If you, or a loved one, have experienced insurance obstacles related to treatment or need help filing an appeal for a denied claim, contact the CHAMP helpline by phone at 888-614-5400 or email at [email protected].