NYS Governor Hochul Launches New Overdose Prevention Task Force

Tuesday August 29th, 2023, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul revealed the kickoff meeting for the Interagency Task Force on Overdose Prevention during her State of the State address.

This group includes experts from 17 New York State agencies and offices who are working together to combat the overdose epidemic in the Empire State.

In my 2023 State of the State address, I outlined our commitment to taking further steps to care for New Yorkers struggling with addiction across our state through the creation of the Interagency Task Force on Overdose Prevention. Turning the tide on illegal substance use requires full coordination across our agencies, and today we take the next step in this ongoing vital work. - New York State Governor Kathy Hochul

The Task Force plans to review "areas of illegal substance use prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction with attention to how substance users interact with education, healthcare, criminal justice, housing, and other social service entities."

A report of the findings will be produced in the Fall of 2023. The  Interagency Task Force on Overdose Preventions mission is to "increase programmatic coordination, analyze the success of existing state programs, and explore additional solutions to this crisis.

The opioid crisis is not just a public health issue - it is a crisis of humanity that touches every corner of the State. Governor Hochul’s new Task Force on Overdose Prevention brings all facets of state government together to identify areas for greater collaboration and make specific recommendations on treatment, recovery, and harm reduction programs to expand access to care and save more lives. - Dr. James McDonald, New York State Department of Health Commissioner 

For more information, visit the New York State Governor Kathy Hochul website.