The state senate of New York released on May 17 its proposals on how to combat the problem of heroin and opioid abuse in the state.
According to officials, the new recommendations were developed by the senate's task force that was charged with studying the increasing number of addiction and overdose cases throughout New York.
State Sen. Rob Ortt, co-chairman of the task force, said the proposals include inputs from law enforcement agencies, physicians, addiction experts as well as victims of drug addiction and their families.
The recommendations underscore the importance of preventing the overuse of prescription medications, educating people on the dangers of drug abuse, making addiction treatments more affordable, expanding treatment options and enforcing tougher penalties for dealers of heroin and other illegal drugs.
Senators hope that they could have the proposals approved within the year.
The state senate has set aside a $166-million budget to fund the fight against heroin and opioid addiction.
A separate heroin and opioid addiction task force created by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is also set to launch its listening tour throughout the state on May 17.
The governor's office said the group will build upon efforts by the Cuomo administration over the past few years to curb the drug addiction epidemic in New York. Its primary goals include enhancing prevention efforts throughout the state, increasing the public's access to treatments and providing better support for addiction victims who are in recovery.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the number of heroin-related deaths in the United States had nearly quadrupled between 2002 and 2013. More than 8,200 people died because of heroin abuse in 2013 alone.
The use of the illegal drug had more than doubled among young American adults between 18 and 25 years old in the previous decade.
Of those who use heroin, about 45 percent have also been found to be addicted to prescription opioid medications.
