Five addiction treatment service providers across New York State have been awarded a $972,717 funding by Governor Cuomo to help them acquire mobile addiction treatment vehicles.
The funding, which was awarded through the Federal State Opioid Response Grant, will be administered by the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports.
Each provider receiving funding will deliver services throughout the listed regions as below:
- Finger Lakes
- Huther Doyle: $215,488
- Long Island
- Central Nassau Guidance: $208,554
- New York City
- Bridging Access to Care: $225,000
- Southern Tier
- Finger Lakes Area Counseling and Recovery Agency: $100,000
- Western NY
- Best Self: $223,675
According to Governor Cuomo, the aim of the mobile treatment vehicles is to deliver addiction treatment services to individuals living in under-served regions of New York State.
Below is Governor Cuomo’s message in light of the above:
“As we continue our efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19 and safeguard public health, we must remain mindful of the ongoing opioid epidemic,” Governor Cuomo said. “This impactful investment in addiction treatment services will help to ensure under-served communities have the necessary resources to expand New Yorkers’ access to often live-saving services as we battle the deadly scourge of addiction.”
Over the years, New York has been able to expand its mobile addiciton treatment solutions. In this regard, the Centers of Treatment Innovation (COTI) was created in 2017 to help the State’s counties, particularly those in high need. The aim of COTI has always been to reach out to addiction sufferers who haven’t had an opportunity to receive care, and those who haven’t recovered fully through traditional treatment approaches.
According to OASAS Commissioner, Arlene Gonzalez-Sanchez, Mobile Addiction Treatment services have not only complemented traditional services, but also enabled New Yorkers to receive life-saving treatment. Arlene Gonzalez-Sanchez has also reiterated that addiction is a public health crisis in New York, and that the funding will greatly help those who have been afflicted.
Through mobile addiction treatment and other COTI services, over 13,000 NY citizens have received non-traditional treatment so far. Additionally, the services have enabled various providers to extend their addiction treatment to previously unde-served areas.
The two types of mobile treatment vehicles that are normally used by treatment providers include:
- Modified vans, which support one-on-one and small group counseling services, and even tele-practice
- Full “mobile clinics”, which have bathrooms, and examination space. Tele-practice and various outpatient services are also available on the full mobile clinics.
Heroin and Opioid Addiction
According to the Co-Chair of the State Heroin and Opioid Task Force, Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, the aim of ensuring that addiction treatment services are available across the state is to ensure individuals and families get help so that they can live optimally, particularly during these COVID-19 times.
Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul also reiterated that the treatment services will help to address the opioid epidemic, which is rampant in New York.
Since he was elected, Governor Cuomo has been keen on instituting multi-faceted approaches that will help address the opioid epidemic. Additionally, Governor Cuomo has successfully established a nation-leading continuum of addiction care, which includes prevention, treatment and recovery services.
In the spirit of fighting the Opioid epidemic, Governor Cuomo has expanded access to various traditional services such as inpatient, outpatient, crisis, residential treatment programs, medication assisted treatment, and even mobile addiction treatment and transportation services.
Back in 2016, Governor Cuomo’s Heroin Task Force endorsed various non-traditional services, with the aim of providing access to immediate assessments and referrals to care. Some of the endorsed non-traditional services include open access centers, recovery centers, expanded peer services, and also youth clubhouses. So far, the above services are accessible in various New York communities.
Governor Cuomo has advanced various legislative and regulatory reforms with the aim of ensuring that addiction sufferers are able to get treatment without encountering numerous insurance restrictions, reducing opioid prescriptions to 7 days from 30 days, as well as increasing training and education for prescribers.
If you are a citizen of New York, and you or your loved ones are struggling with addiction problems, please feel free to reach out via 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369).
Also, feel free to visit the NYS OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard at FindAddictionTreatment.ny.gov for more information on the available addiction treatment, which include inpatient and outpatient care, community residence, and crisis/detox. You could also visit the NYS OASAS website for more information.
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