On Tuesday, June 7th, Governor of New York Kathy Hochul announced $4.5 million in funding for substance abuse and prevention coalitions.

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The grant funds will be available to awardees in three installments of $150,000 per year, for a total of $450,000 over the course of three years. $1.8 million of additional funding will be available for more New York City coalitions.

Additionally, some of the coalitions receiving the funds will use them to specifically target communities at high risk for substance abuse, notably the LGBTQIA+ community, racial and ethnic minorities, rural communities, high poverty areas, and older adults.

Like much of the country, New York has struggled with an increase in opioid addiction over the last two decades. Per the New York State Department of Health website, in 2019 the state had an average of 15.1 opioid deaths per 100,000 residents. That number is below the CDC national average of 21.6 opioid deaths per 100,000 residents in 2019. This funding will aim to curb the upwards trending and reduce the state average of opioid-related deaths.

In preliminary data released by the New York State Department of Health, Broome County saw a total of 70 opioid related deaths in 2020 for a rate of 35.8 per 100,000 residents.

According to Governor Hochul's press release, Tompkins Cortland Community College has been announced as a recipient of the funds being distributed for the Southern Tier region. Tompkins Cortland Community College is also one of the three coalitions that will provide targeted services for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Chinazo Cunningham, the Commissioner of the Office of Addiction Services and Supports, stated that "These coalitions will play an important role in bringing tailored services to the places and individuals they serve and will allow us to reach more people in high-risk populations with much-needed help and support."

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