Legislation S.4393/A.5004 Will Increase Access to Fentanyl Test Strips
Legislation S.3112-A/A.1588-A Will Require Public Institutions and Buildings of the State to be Equipped With Opioid Antagonists
Legislation S.7833-A/A.8467-A Will Authorize Health Care Professionals, Including Pharmacists, to Dispense Drug Adulterant Testing Products That Test for Xylazine
Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation that builds on New York’s ongoing efforts to address the opioid and overdose epidemic that is impacting states across the nation.
“I’m committed to keeping New Yorkers safe and fighting the opioid crisis and overdose epidemic that has taken far too many neighbors, friends and family members in New York and across the nation,” Governor Hochul said. “This legislation ensures New Yorkers have access to live-saving information during the most critical moments.”
Legislation S.4393/A.5004 will require the Department of Health to distribute fentanyl test strips along with opioid antagonists, which it distributes to registered opioid overdose prevention programs. The legislation will also require that an informational card or sheet distributed along with the opioid antagonist contain information about fentanyl test strips and their uses.
Legislation S.3112-A/A.1588-A will require the state to equip public institutions and buildings with opioid antagonists.
Legislation S.7833-A/A.8467-A will authorize health care professionals, including pharmacists to dispense drug adulterant testing supplies used to test for xylazine. Xylazine is a non-opioid used as a sedative, anesthetic, muscle relaxant, and analgesic for animals, but it is not FDA-approved for use in humans due to severe central nervous system (CNS) depressant effects.
This legislation builds on Governor Hochul’s commitment to addressing the opioid crisis impacting New Yorkers and the nation. Last year, the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) developed the first in the nation online ordering portal where naloxone kits and test strips can be ordered by any New York State resident who requests them. New York State has now distributed more than 20 million fentanyl and xylazine test strips, as well as nearly 700,000 naloxone kits through both OASAS and the State's Department of Health (DOH). These lifesaving resources are all available free of charge. DOH’s opioid overdose prevention program was launched in 2006. There are now more than 1,300 registered programs with 5,800 sites located throughout the State – and 72 new opioid overdose prevention programs were approved in 2024 alone. DOH rolled out drug checking programs throughout New York State to garner a complete understanding of the drug supply and to monitor emerging threats. Additional state actions to reduce overdose deaths include expanding medication treatment through opioid treatment programs, mobile medication units, treatment in carceral settings, low-threshold buprenorphine and collaboration with New York Police Department on Post Overdose Response Initiatives.
New York State also offers virtual naloxone trainings through OASAS and overdose prevention trainings under DOH's Clinical Education Initiative (CEI) initiative to help members of the public understand how to recognize an overdose, respond by administering naloxone, and what to do after naloxone is given. The Project COPE initiative through OASAS also offers videos with instructions on how to use naloxone and test strips, as well as other information on overdose prevention and harm reduction.
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).
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 ombuds@oasas.ny.gov.
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