overdose epidemic

Broome County was one of 40 health departments across the country to receive the funding. It was the only health department in New York state to get the grant outside of New York City.

Seven local organizations will receive a total of over $850,000 in settlement funds, which come from pharmaceutical companies that played a role in the opioid crisis.

The Addiction Center of Broome County wants to open a “warming center” to provide shelter for homeless residents when temperatures go below freezing. But some local business owners are against the plan.

Rep. Marc Molinaro, who represents parts of the Southern Tier and Hudson Valley, heard from elected officials, advocates, hospitals and law enforcement about the increase in mental health needs in Broome County, during a roundtable in Binghamton this week.

Forty people overdosed in April, a nearly 40% increase from March, according to overdose data the county health department collects.

Most of those deaths are from opioids, more specifically, fentanyl.

Xylazine, a destructive veterinary anesthetic, is popping up in the illicit opioid supply throughout the Northeast. Harm reduction providers say it is just the latest in an increasingly synthetic and evolving drug market.

The legislation, called the Family Support Services for Addiction Act, would offer up to $25 million in grants to community groups that serve the loved ones of people dealing with addiction.

Local organizations can now apply for up to $150,000 in grants to help combat the overdose epidemic.

The number of pregnant people or postpartum parents in the U.S. who died from an opioid overdose grew by 81% in the past six years, according to a recent study. It's a significant increase compared to other people who use opioids.