overdose epidemic

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.

The state has set aside $7.5 million of its opioid settlement money to fund regional health care providers offering low-threshold addiction treatment.

The county's health department said it hopes publishing the monthly data will raise awareness about the scope of the overdose epidemic.

New York state is still sorting out how to spend over $2 billion in opioid settlement money from pharmaceutical companies, which played a role in the opioid crisis. Southern Tier counties, many still battered by rising overdose rates, are deciding how best to spend funds they’ve received from signing on to settlements.

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

"It’s important that these companies pay up, it’s also important that the money go to where it was intended."