Central New York is receiving its next installment of opioid settlement funds from a 2019 state lawsuit that held distributors and manufacturers accountable for the epidemic. Attorney General Tish James announced in a virtual event that the region will receive $6.3 million for prevention, treatment and education.
“There are more resources in our communities today to teach young people about the dangers of opioids, to prevent someone from misusing a painkiller for the first time, to treat people who are struggling with addiction, and to save people from dying of an overdose.”
Onondaga County will receive $3.7 million and the city of Syracuse $263,000 from the $1.5 billion settlement. The funding comes as County Executive Ryan McMahon released the latest opioid data, and the numbers are sobering. The county recorded 186 overdose fatalities last year, the highest ever in Onondaga County. That’s up from 156 in 2020.
With the expected increase in funding from various settlements, Onondaga County will have more resources than ever to truly address the root causes of this disease. Thank you to our community partners who joined us today & to the many more who will help us in this effort. pic.twitter.com/SRlSS08owq
— Onondaga County (@OnondagaCounty) April 19, 2022
“We’ve seen more people relapse. We’ve seen the loss of life. And now we have resources. We’re going to partner with all of our partners here locally to look at comprehensive planning related to prevention, related to treatment.”
McMahon said it’s important to check in with loved ones and friends who might be experiencing social isolation, despair, or other risk factors, and to monitor them for signs and symptoms of abuse disorder.