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New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday announced a statewide initiative to combat the rise of heroin use, as heroin sales and related heroin drug overdoses have become a widespread problem across the state.
The multi-faceted approach includes the addition of 100 experienced investigators to the State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team, nearly doubling the number of troopers currently serving in the unit, in order to more aggressively combat heroin trafficking, Cuomo said in a statement.
Additionally, the state will launch an unprecedented effort to make supplies of naloxone available to all first responder units in the state, he said. Naloxone is an emergency treatment that blocks the effects of opioids on the body and can reverse the effects of an overdose.
The governor also announced a targeted awareness campaign on all public college and university campuses.
"Today, New York State is taking a major step forward in the fight against heroin. By nearly doubling the State Police's drug enforcement units with the addition of more than 100 seasoned investigators we are going above and beyond to combat this deadly drug," Cuomo said.
Providing supplies of naloxone to all first responder units and raising awareness through our Sate University of New York and City University of New York campuses will save lives in communities across the State, he said.
Heroin is a highly addictive depressant, with users representing a variety of ages, races and other backgrounds. Fatal overdose, the contraction of HIV/AIDS and addiction and dependence are among a plethora of negative side effects that can result from heroin use.
In addition to physical danger, heroin use threatens a user's social life -- often straining family bonds, friendships and professional relationships.
Across the nation, heroin abuse has been increasing at dangerously high rates in recent years. Nationally, as many as 467, 000 people were reportedly abusing heroin or suffering from heroin dependence in 2012.
In New York State alone, there were 89,269 cases of heroin and prescription opiate treatment admissions in 2013, an increase from 63,793 in 2004. During this same time period, the drug also disproportionately impacted New Yorkers ranging in age from 18 to 24.
