Amid Nationwide Overdose Crisis, Governor and Representative Espaillat Announce Efforts To Support Harlem Community
Governor Kathy Hochul and Representative Adriano Espaillat today announced immediate actions to improve the way opioid treatment is provided in Harlem. The effort will support the Harlem community while continuing New York's efforts to fight the overdose crisis that has taken thousands of lives.
“These measures will directly address community concerns while we work to identify additional long-term solutions to improve the density of services in Harlem," Governor Hochul and Representative Espaillat said. "Supporting and providing health care to New Yorkers struggling with addiction remains a joint priority, and we will continue to work together to tackle this statewide public health crisis head on.”
Under the framework developed by Governor Hochul and Representative Espaillat, two immediate steps will be taken. First, the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) will work with opioid treatment program providers to address high foot traffic and idling at certain sites while better serving existing patients. To do so, providers will shift to requiring fewer visits to receive take-home medications, when appropriate, which will eliminate barriers to life-saving treatment and reduce the number of in-person visits needed for each patient.
Additionally, OASAS will expand the Mobile Medication Unit (MMU) program to additional regions later this year, including Wards Island, helping to alleviate foot traffic issues along the 125th Street corridor. The MMU program launched this year with a $6 million investment and is designed to reach underserved areas and people who have difficulty accessing treatment by bringing services directly to them.
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