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Utica, New York (June 2016) – On Thursday, June 9th, 2016, The Oneida County Heroin/Opiate Task Force and it partner agencies, will be holding a forum on Sports Injuries: “NO PAIN, NO GAIN”, Athletes, Injuries, and Narcotics. At 5:00, there will be a mixer with snacks and beverages and the public will have the opportunity to meet with local agencies where there will be free information and the ability to ask questions. At 5:30 the forum will begin and last until 6:30. The forum will be held at Mohawk Valley Community College (1101 Sherman Drive), Payne Hall Room 101. There will be a special focus on educating and bringing awareness to sports injuries and more holistic approaches to offer pain management than using opioids to control or “mask” the pain. This event is free and open to the public.

Jodi Warren, Prevention Coordinator of CFLR, Inc., and member of Oneida County’s Heroin/Opiate Task Force states, “This forum will provide information on how to manage pain in a more holistic way when an athlete sustains a sports injury rather then turning to a substance that could potentially lead to addiction. There is an epidemic amongst us with opiate and heroin use and athletes many times have their first experience with opiates when a sports injury occurs and sometimes can, and does lead to addiction. Being a former collegiate athlete and having two teens that have played sports for years I know all too well how competitive athletes are, and sometimes when a sports injury occurs the athlete will want to get back on the ice, field, court etc. way too soon. The athlete may use opiates as a means to mask the pain just to play, yet not thinking about the potential damage it can do with not only causing more injury but possibly starting a cycle of addiction. The consequences can be extremely harmful.”

The forum will have an opening speaker, Joshua Wright who was a former local athlete that endured sports injuries in high school which started his use of opiates and eventually lead to addiction of opioids/heroin. Now, in recovery Joshua wants to prevent and educate so that other athletes don’t go down the same path. There will also be other panelists as well; Adam Ellis (Chiropractor), Steve Nunno (Athletic Trainer), Tim Madden (Physical Therapist), Jodi Warren (Parent), Krysta Beha (Collegiate Athlete), Sgt. Terrance Gilbert (Coach).

For more information about the Forum, or if you are an agency that wants to have a table at the forum, please contact Jodi Warren, Prevention Coordinator, at (315) 768-2643 or jwarren@cflrinc.org.

NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES UNVEILS TALK2PREVENT CAMPAIGN REMINDING NEW YORKERS ABOUT THE DANGERS OF UNDERAGE AND BINGE DRINKING AND DRUG USE DURING PROM AND GRADUATION SEASON

Effort Urges Parents to Talk to Children about Health Risks, Risk for Addiction

The New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services today announced the launch of the latest phase of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s Talk2Prevent education campaign, an initiative focused on preventing underage and binge drinking and illicit drug use ahead of prom and graduation season. The statewide campaign includes a new radio public service announcement and digital ads urging parents to have regular discussions about alcohol and drug use and the importance of making a plan with their child on how to exit situations involving drinking or drug use.

“Graduation and prom are major milestones for students and their families, and they should be happy occasions,” said NYS OASAS Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez , who was at Riverhead High School in Riverhead, Long Island today to officially launch the Talk2Prevent campaign. “These celebrations can have lethal consequences if they involve alcohol or drugs. This campaign urges parents and guardians to have open, regular discussions, in advance of these milestone events, so that our young people know just how dangerous these substances can be and they can do their part to keep themselves and their friends safe during this time of year.”

The new Talk2Prevent Radio PSA will also play on Spanish radio stations. The campaign also includes coffee sleeves that remind parents and adults to talk with teens about underage drinking and substance use. These will be distributed at select coffee shops in areas with high admission rates for young people seeking alcohol addiction treatment. Placemats with the same message will be displayed at select restaurants in those same areas. Posters that say, “The way you talk to your child becomes their inner voice” and that “alcohol and drugs have no place in a healthy childhood,” are available on the Talk2Prevent website for downloading and use in schools and communities.

The Talk2Prevent website also includes 10 examples of effective pre-prom and graduation prevention strategies that local schools and communities have used to help keep young people alcohol- and drug-free at these events. On the website, prevention providers and schools around the state share the creative and unique drug and alcohol prevention strategies that can be replicated at other schools and in other communities. Riverhead High School’s pre-prom activities, including busing students to the prom and hosting a red carpet picture taking event, were held up at the event today as great examples of community involvement in keeping kids safe.

The Talk2Prevent campaign aims to help to reverse the following statistics:

• 75 percent of high school seniors in New York State have used alcohol. _{(OASAS Youth Development Survey 2014-15 Report)}
• 24 percent of high school juniors and seniors engaged in binge drinking during the past 2 weeks _{(OASAS Youth Development Survey 2014-15 Report)}
• One in 10 teens say they have driven under the influence of alcohol during the summer. _{(Liberty Mutual/SADD, 2013)}
• 22 percent of 7^th – 12^th graders have smoked marijuana. _{(OASAS Youth Development Survey 2014-15 Report)}
• 5 percent of students in grades 7^th – 12^th have used a prescription pain reliever non-medically. _{(OASAS Youth Development Survey 2014-15 Report)}

OASAS, DMV and the State Liquor Authority, as members of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, continue to spearhead several initiatives at the Governor’s direction to deter underage drinking and keep New York’s roadways safe, namely through DMV’s “No Empty Chair” campaign and SLA’s “No Excuses” campaign.

Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Executive Deputy Commissioner and Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee Acting Chair Terri Egan said, “While it is important year round to urge all New Yorkers to drive free of impairment by drugs or alcohol, it is especially critical to raise awareness among teens during prom and graduation season. If not careful, an exciting time in their lives can be quickly ruined by one bad decision. We work each day to prevent impaired driving and underage drinking, and through our Operation Prevent initiative, we deter the use of fake IDs to purchase alcohol. Keeping New Yorkers safe is our top priority, which is why we are happy to partner with OASAS on this important campaign.”

“As underage drinking far too often results in tragic outcomes, there is no more important priority for the State Liquor Authority than preventing the sale of alcohol to minors,” said SLA Chairman Vincent Bradley. “New York State agencies are committed to working collaboratively to prevent and reduce underage alcohol use by conducting aggressive enforcement actions, offering educational opportunities, and launching proactive campaigns like Talk2prevent targeting parents who exercise significant influence over their children’s decisions.”

New Yorkers can find help for addiction 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 (467369). New Yorkers can find an OASAS-certified substance use disorder treatment provider any time by using the OASAS Bed Availability Dashboard. For help accessing care and insurance coverage, New Yorkers can visit the Access Treatment page on the OASAS website. The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee’s Younger Driver Tool Kit offers additional tips for keeping young people safe while behind the wheel.

Press Release: http://www.oasas.ny.gov/pio/press/050916T2PPhase3.cfm

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Collaborative Effort Charged with Developing Comprehensive Plan to End Heroin and Opioid Addiction in NYS
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the launch of a statewide heroin task force charged with ending the heroin and opioid crisis in New York. The group, comprised of a broad coalition of experts in healthcare, drug policy, advocacy, education, and parents and New Yorkers in recovery, will build on the state’s previous efforts and use their expertise and experience to develop a comprehensive action plan to combat the state’s opioid epidemic. Members of the task force will hold public listening sessions across New York to inform their recommendations.

“Opioid addiction is a national epidemic that continues to plague families in communities across New York – and the state has been taking aggressive action to tackle this crisis head on,” Governor Cuomo said. “The Heroin Task Force will take these efforts to the next level with a comprehensive action plan developed by a diverse coalition of experts. We will use the task force’s recommendations to implement smart solutions that will protect public health, enhance safety in communities statewide and save the lives of vulnerable New Yorkers.”

“Heroin and opioid deaths in New York State have reached unconscionable levels,” Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, Co-Chair of the Heroin Task Force said. “On behalf of the families all across New York whose lives have been shattered by this crisis, I’m honored to lead the fight against it. We will leave no stone unturned in our quest to find ways to not only prevent, but also break the cycle of addiction that has destroyed so many lives in our state.”

Since 2014, Governor Cuomo has implemented a series of aggressive reforms to combat heroin and opioid addiction, including signing the historic Combat Heroin Legislation; expanding insurance coverage for substance use disorder treatment; increasing access and enhancing treatment capacity across the state, including a major expansion of opioid treatment services; implementing new and expanded recovery services; and launching a public awareness and prevention campaign to inform New Yorkers about the dangers of opioid use.

In March, new regulations took effect that require all prescriptions to be transmitted electronically from the prescriber directly to the pharmacy. The measure is part of New York’s comprehensive I-STOP law, first implemented in 2012, designed to curb prescription drug abuse across the state.

Through I-STOP, New York requires prescribers to consult the Prescription Monitoring Program Registry when writing prescriptions for Schedule II, III, and IV controlled substances. The Registry provides practitioners with direct, secure access to view dispensed controlled substance prescription histories for patients in real time. The data is further used to identify potential sources of prescription drug diversion or abuse, including prescription fraud. In April, the state began sharing Prescription Monitoring Program data with New Jersey to further prevent the stockpiling and resale of dangerous controlled substances.

As of 2015, I-STOP has led to a 90 percent decrease in the number of “doctor shoppers” or patients who visit multiple prescribers and pharmacies to obtain controlled substances within a three-month time period.

As overdose is now the leading cause of accidental death in New York, the state has also led an aggressive effort to make naloxone available without a prescription at approved pharmacies. In March, the state DOH, in collaboration with the Harm Reduction Coalition, issued standing medical orders to the more than 750 independent pharmacies outside New York City, allowing these pharmacists to dispense naloxone without a prescription. The action built on the Governor’s agreement with CVS and Walgreens/Duane Reade in January 2016, enabling more than 900 of these pharmacies to make naloxone available without a prescription statewide.

To date, New York has trained thousands of first responders and community members to recognize and respond to overdoses. Since 2006, the state’s community overdose prevention and naloxone distribution program has enrolled more than 225 registered programs, which have trained more than 112,000 individuals. As a result, more than 3,500 overdose reversals have been documented, with over 1,500 lives saved in 2015 alone. A total of 8,424 law enforcement officials have been trained to administer naloxone through these efforts, including 2,639 instructors.

Now, the Heroin Task Force will build upon the state’s previous efforts and develop a comprehensive statewide plan to break the cycle of opioid addiction in New York. Specifically, the Task Force will identify ways to expand awareness of heroin and opioid addiction; enhance statewide prevention efforts; increase access to treatment; and improve support for those in recovery. For more information, please visit: http://combatheroin.ny.gov/.

Members of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s Heroin Task Force include:

• Kathy Hochul, Lieutenant Governor, co-chair
• Arlene Gonzalez-Sanchez, NYS OASAS Commissioner, co-chair
• Maria Vullo, Acting NYS DFS Superintendent
• Dr. Howard Zucker, NYS DOH Commissioner
• Joshua Vinciguerra, NYS DOH, Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement Director
• Michael Green, NYS DCJS Executive Commissioner
• Lt. Colonel Frank Kohler, Lead on Heroin/Opioids, NYS State Police
• Tino Hernandez, President, Samaritan Village
• Daniel Raymond, Policy Director, Harm Reduction Coalition
• Charles Brack, Peer/Family Support Specialist, United Healthcare
• Patrice Wallace-Moore, CEO of Arms Acres
• Michael McMahon, Richmond County District Attorney
• Adrienne Abbate, Executive Director, SI partnership for Community Wellness
• Kym Laube, Executive Director, Human Understanding & Growth Services
• Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds, President and CEO of Family and Children’s Association
• Anne Constantino, CEO of Horizon Health Services
• Cortney Lovell, Director, Wrise Consulting
• Susan Salomone, Executive Director of Drug Crisis in Our Backyard
• Patrick Seche, Director of Services, Addiction Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center
• Jerald Woolfork, VP for Student Affairs at SUNY Oswego
• Tom O’Brien, Roxbury Schools Superintendent
• Terrence Murphy, NYS Senate
• Linda Rosenthal, NYS Assembly

NYS OASAS Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez said, “New Yorkers battling addiction need to know we are here with open arms to help them – to access treatment and support their recovery. I thank the Governor for his continued leadership in appointing this task force. I believe that their work will add to our efforts to attack this epidemic.”

NYS Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said, “Opioid addiction has become a national crisis that is destroying lives and tearing families apart. Governor Cuomo has dedicated substantial resources to addressing this crisis and helping addicted New Yorkers get the assistance they need. His latest action – creation of the statewide task force – will allow us to develop a comprehensive plan to help those who are addicted and prevent others from going down that path.”

Maria T. Vullo, Acting Superintendent of Financial Services said, “Substance addiction devastates families across New York State. As a member of Governor Cuomo’s statewide heroin task force, I will work with health insurers and other stakeholders to devise educational programs focused on prevention, as well as implement aggressive reforms to ensure that affected New Yorkers receive access to the recovery and support services they need.”

Senator Terence Murphy said, “Heroin and prescription drug abuse has claimed far too many lives in New York and across the country. It’s time we put a stop to this epidemic and prevent more needless tragedies from occurring. Launching this task force is the right move, and I look forward to joining Governor Cuomo’s efforts to fight dangerous opioid abuse in New York State.”

Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal said, “The opioid epidemic is hurting New York’s children and families – and the state must continue to advance its efforts to combat this epidemic. I am proud to join the Heroin Task Force and commend Governor Cuomo for his continued leadership on this critical issue. Through these coordinated efforts, we will be able to connect more New Yorkers with vital treatment and support services, and increase prevention strategies in communities statewide.”

Richmond County District Attorney Michael McMahon said, “The heroin and prescription drug crisis is stealing the lives of Staten Islanders every other day, just as it is crippling communities across New York State and across the country. Confronting this epidemic is the challenge of a generation, and while the challenge is daunting, it is one we must address and that we can solve together if given the tools and resources to get the job done. I want to thank the Governor for bringing this task force together and for his commitment to this important issue.”

Cortney Lovell, Director, Wrise Consulting, said, “I applaud Governor Cuomo for appointing this task force and his continued leadership in combatting the opioid epidemic. We need to work together to tackle this crisis head on and advance solutions that will make a difference in the lives of New Yorkers struggling with addiction. As a person in long term recovery, I am proud to be a part of this effort and I look forward to helping more New Yorkers find and experience the joy of recovery.”

Anne Constantino, CEO of Horizon Health Services, said, “I thank the Governor for his continued leadership in creating this task force. This is a nationwide epidemic and we must take action to ensure New Yorkers have access to the help they need and deserve. I am proud the Task Force will build on the Governor’s good work over the last few years, and I look forward to finding ways to further expand and enhance addiction treatment services in New York.”

Susan Salomone, Executive Director of Drug Crisis in Our Backyard and a parent who lost her son to opioid use, said, “I am honored to be a part of this important work and commend Governor Cuomo for leading the way in combatting this epidemic. As parent who has been impacted by addiction, it is my hope that the Task Force will provide New Yorkers with a roadmap to overcome substance abuse and help those in recovery lead long, healthy and happy lives. I look forward to working together to create a long-term plan that will help protect New York’s children and families.”

Over the past decade, admissions for heroin and prescription opioid-abuse treatment in New York have increased 40 percent. In Upstate New York and on Long Island, admissions for opioid and heroin addiction have increased 94 and 117 percent respectively. Moreover, heroin admissions to OASAS addiction treatment programs have risen 35 percent between 2006 and 2015. Five percent of students in grades seven through twelve have reported using a prescription pain reliever non-medically.

New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the State’s HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369). New Yorkers can find an OASAS-certified substance use disorder treatment provider any time by using the OASAS Bed Availability Dashboard. For help with accessing care and insurance coverage, visit the Access Treatment page on the OASAS website.

To find a naloxone overdose reversal medication training near you, visit the OASAS Addiction Treatment Center opioid overdose prevention trainings page. Visitwww.combatheroin.ny.gov for more information on addressing heroin and prescription opioid abuse, including a Kitchen Table Tool Kit to help start the conversation about the warning signs of addiction and where to get help. For additional tools to use in talking to a young person about preventing underage drinking or drug use, visit the State’s Talk2Prevent website.

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Additional news available at www.governor.ny.gov
New York State | Executive Chamber |press.office@exec.ny.gov | 518.474.8418

NYS Liquor Authority, Advocates and Industry Partners Join Together to Advance Alcohol Responsibility and Prevent Sales to Minors
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today launched the “No Excuses” campaign aimed at curbing underage drinking in New York. The statewide education campaign includes the distribution of more than 15,000 display materials, in Spanish and English, to restaurants and liquor stores across the state.

“Far too many times we’ve witnessed the dangers of underage drinking and the tragic and life-altering consequences that come with it,” Governor Cuomo said. “With prom and graduation season just around the corner, this campaign sends the message that this reckless behavior just isn’t worth it.”

The New York State Liquor Authority in conjunction with the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility kicked off the statewide campaign ahead of prom and graduation season and began the distribution of thousands of display materials to liquor licensees throughout New York. The groups are hosting launch events with spirits retailers in Albany, Buffalo, New York City and Rochester, with participation by local law enforcement officials, who are on the front lines in combating underage drinking.

Members from all levels of the spirits industry came together for the “No Excuses” effort. Responsibility.org represents the country’s leading distillers, and wholesale partners include Southern Wine & Spirits and Empire Merchants. The following retail associations are also involved in the campaign:

• The New York State Liquor Stores Association
• Empire State Restaurant and Tavern Association
• Metropolitan Package Store Association
• Retailers Alliance

“Keeping alcohol out of the hands of underage youth is a top priority at the New York State Liquor Authority,” Vincent G. Bradley, Chairman of the New York State Liquor Authority said. “Therefore, we are committed to working on the front lines to ensure alcohol is sold and purchased responsibly by adults only.”

“One bad decision, like using a fake ID at a bar or getting behind the wheel of a car after a few drinks, can have lifelong consequences, which is why it’s important we continue to work together to raise awareness and keep alcohol out of the hands of young adults,” NYS DMV Executive Deputy Commissioner and Acting Chair of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee Terri Egan said. “DMV and GTSC are proud to partner with SLA on the ‘No Excuses’ campaign, and in other events and joint investigations throughout the year, with the common goal of deterring underage drinking and keeping New Yorkers safe.”

“Seventy-five percent of high school seniors in New York State have used alcohol,” NYS OASAS Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez said. “This underage use puts our young people at risk for addiction later on in life. Delaying alcohol use can help prevent substance abuse and addiction down the road.”

“New York youth under the legal age to purchase alcohol should be on notice that the SLA and the spirits industry are united in our commitment to fight underage drinking,” Ralph Blackman, president and CEO of Responsibility.org said. “Year after year, family and friends continue to be a leading source of alcohol for today’s youth, so this campaign is a message to parents, too. Parents are the leading influence on their teen’s decision to drink – or not to drink – alcohol, and the ‘No Excuses’ campaign provides a great opportunity for parents to start the conversation with their teens and let them know that underage drinking is dangerous and will not be tolerated.”

The SLA has dramatically intensified enforcement actions to crack down on sales to minors in addition to providing education to licensees on their responsibilities. SLA prosecutions for underage sales are up 50 percent since 2010, while the number of licensees and their staff completing the Alcohol Training Awareness Program to prevent underage sales has increased by over 150 percent over the same time period.

The SLA and DMV are integral members of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, which funds initiatives to deter underage drinking and keep New York’s roadways safe. This includes Operation Prevent, which is aimed at reducing underage drinking and the use of fake IDs. During Operation Prevent sweeps, DMV investigators work year-round with local law enforcement and in targeted details with the SLA to check identification documents and keep underage patrons from obtaining alcohol at bars, drinking establishments, convenience stores, concerts, and events. Governor Cuomo announced in January that Operation Prevent efforts in 2015 resulted in nearly 760 arrests and the seizure of more than 750 fraudulent documents.

The GTSC also recently spearheaded the “No Empty Chair” teen driving safety education and enforcement campaign to raise awareness of the highway dangers associated with teen drinking.

The Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility is a national not-for-profit that leads the fight to eliminate drunk driving and underage drinking and is funded by the following distillers: Bacardi U.S.A., Inc.; Beam Suntory Inc.; Brown-Forman; Constellation Brands, Inc.; DIAGEO; Edrington; Hood River Distillers, Inc.; and Pernod Ricard USA. For 25 years, Responsibility.org has transformed countless lives through programs that bring individuals, families and communities together to guide a lifetime of conversations around alcohol responsibility. To learn more, please visit: Responsibility.org.

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UTICA, N.Y. — Eight nonprofit organizations in the Utica/Rome/North Country region have been chosen from among a total of 185 applications to receive Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s 2016 Community Health Awards. Each award recipient will receive up to $4,000 of the $87,000 allocated by the company to help fund health and wellness programs in its 31-county upstate New York region.

Through a competitive application process, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s Community Health Awards support programs that have clear goals to improve the health or health care of a specific population.

Awards focus on improving the health status of the community, reducing the incidence of specific diseases, promoting health education and enhancing overall wellness and are made based on scope of need, goals of the program, number of people expected to benefit from the program and positive impact on the community’s health status.

The eight nonprofit organizations in Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s 11-county Utica/Rome/North Country region that were selected to receive Community Health Awards are:

• Abraham House, Utica, to recruit and train up to 60 volunteer caregivers, who will help provide 24-hour residential end-of-life hospice care in a home-like setting for the terminally ill free of charge for patients or families.

• ACR Health, Utica, to make available nutrient-dense foods and literature on healthy eating through the organization’s peer-based outreach program to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases in targeted, high-risk neighborhoods in the Utica/Rome/North Country region.

• Center for Family Life and Recovery, Utica, to fund the Healthy Heart Club for overweight school-aged youth in Oneida and Herkimer counties. Club participants will make a nine-month commitment to learn healthy living skills and track their weekly physical activity and healthy eating options.

• Clear Path for Veterans, Chittenango, to offer Saturday Family Reset wellness programs that include holistic approaches to self-care and wellness and emphasize making healthy choices about food, exercise and relaxation. Goals are to help veterans and their families improve their quality of life and sense of well-being.
• Insight House Chemical Dependency Services, Utica, to make yoga classes available on-site for Insight House clients. The goal is to promote and provide opportunities for patients to lead a healthy lifestyle, when they may have neglected their health due to alcohol or substance abuse.
• Mohawk Valley Perinatal Network, Utica, for a Safe Sleep for Babies campaign to increase awareness regarding sudden infant death syndrome risk reduction and safe sleep environments. Funds will also be used to purchase portable cribs, crib sheets and Halo sleep sacks for 50 infants.
• Multicultural Association of Medical Interpreters, Utica, for a series of three culturally modified health seminars for the refugee and Latino communities in Utica and Syracuse. The seminars will cover such topics as nutrition, lead poisoning, vaccinations, dental care, fire safety, stranger danger and CPR training.
• The Parkway Center, Utica, to purchase exercise equipment and establish the organization’s Stay Young Strong Bones exercise program at five additional sites. Goals of the program are to increase strength, muscle mass and bone density while reducing the risk for chronic conditions.

“The company’s Community Health Awards demonstrate a corporate commitment to support local organizations that share our mission as a nonprofit health plan,” said Eve VandeWal, regional president, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. “These awards complement our existing grants and sponsorships with agencies that work to enhance quality of life, including health status, in upstate New York.”

In the 80 years that Excellus BlueCross BlueShield has been serving residents of upstate New York, the company has supported hundreds of programs that are aimed at improving the health status of area residents.