The Kings Park community has been at the front lines in the battle to combat the Heroin and Opioid epidemic on Long Island. So it was fitting that Congressman Lee Zeldin host a massive press conference, announcing news of his Bipartisan supported CARA bill, in the heart of Kings Park last Thursday. On May 5th, 2016, the Congressman, packed the VFW Post 5796 with Supporters, leaders in Law Enforcement, Community Advocates and Elected officials to speak on behalf of his Bipartisan bill. The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (C.A.R.A. or H.R. 953), if passed, would allocate $80 Million in local funding toward emergency treatment, Narcan training and supply as well as addiction recovery programs and tighter regulation for prescription drugs. Public officials, speaking in favor of the Congressman’s bill included; Suffolk County Police Commissioner Tim Sini, Senator John Flanagan, Kings Park In the kNOw President, Kim Revere and the Founder of the Thomas Hope foundation and Smithtown’s leading voice in the fight for Opioid addiction & recovery, Linda Ventura.
“Over the past year, as a member of the Bipartisan Task Force to Combat the Heroin Epidemic, I’ve worked closely with many of you, hosting multiple drug task force round tables here on Long Island, to bring together local elected officials, law enforcement, health professionals, community groups, parents, concerned residents and those in recovery, to discuss and develop a more localized solution to address this crisis. Today, I’m proud to announce that our voices have been heard. Next week, the House of Representatives is dedicating a full week to passing legislation aimed at addressing this epidemic, with a package of several bills to combat the growing heroin and opioid crisis…Not one piece of legislation will solve this crisis, but we must always continue our fight in Congress to provide our local communities with the resources necessary to help stop and prevent drug abuse through treatment, enforcement, and education.” -Congressman Lee Zeldin
The following day, Friday May 6th, 2016, a list of final bills were scheduled for a week of voting in the House, all vital to improving drug abuse/addiction awareness, prescription drug restrictions and legal accountability. Congressman Zeldin encouraged the room of residents and community activists to stay vigilant, call congress and write letters, geared toward moving the law forward, so the necessary resources are available on a local level.
Suffolk County Police Commissioner, Timothy Sini praised Congressman Zeldin for his aggressive approach to overseeing the passage of his C.A.R.A. bill, stating the need for local resources is of paramount importance.
“The heroin epidemic that our nation is facing is the number one public health and public safety issue here in Suffolk County… Partnerships between local law enforcement and our federal representatives is a crucial tool in the battle against this scourge…” -Suffolk County Police Commissioner, Timothy Sini
Long time substance abuse awareness activist and Community leader, Kim Revere believes prevention and recovery is the path to winning in this crisis. Revere believes in communicating and educating our youth and involving the parents to create a healthy basis of mutual knowledge and understanding.
“I would like to see permanent evidence based prevention programs implemented in school grades K-12. It starts with coping skills and works up to the dangers of using substances.” -Kim Revere, In the kNOw President
Of the many bills, scheduled for a vote, include H.R. 4641, co-sponsored by Congressman Zeldin. The bill would reform prescription guidelines through a federal inter-agency & stakeholder task force designed to review, modify and update best practices for pain management and prescribing pain medication, holding both the patient and the prescriber accountable. H.R. 4641 is intended to add improved transparency and help prevent future cases of opioid addiction. Additional bills scheduled for House vote, include H.R. 3380 and H.R. 4985. These two pieces of legislation deal in drug trafficking intelligence, intended to aid in preventing the flow of illegal street narcotics. The Examining Opioid Treatment Infrastructure Act of 2016 (H.R. 4982), is also on the weeks agenda. H.R. 4982 would charge Congress with the task of studying a National substance abuse, treatment availability and infrastructure needs report. And finally; H.R. 4976 is a piece of legislation that would delegate a federal agency to design a master plan targeting the opioid and heroin epidemic head-on.
Senator John Flanagan spoke to the importance of State and Federal level legislation geared to combat this epidemic, which has consumed an entire generation for far too long. The Senator expressed his gratitude to Congressman Zeldin, for his aid in pushing the need for treatment, recovery and prevention to the Nation’s representatives in the house.
If we are going to combat the scourge of heroin and opioid abuse in our communities, It’s going to take a team approach… We recently provided $116 million in the state budget to address this crisis and get people the help they need, and I am pleased that Congressman Zeldin is working at the federal level to approve comprehensive legislation to do even more. This is a serious matter, and we need to attack it in a serious way, in cooperation with our partners in the federal government.” -New York Senator John Flanagan
Linda Ventura, who is one of the most powerful and revered warriors in this fight, defined the necessary steps to bring the Heroin and Opioid epidemic to its end. Ventura has made it her life’s mission to assuring no parent endure the tragic (and preventable) loss which she survives every day… The loss of a child to addiction. The founder of the Thomas Hope Foundation, believes this crisis must be fought on all fronts, outlining Treatment, Recovery, Prevention and Law Enforcement as the four-pronged approach that will defeat substance abuse in our Community and throughout the Country.
The United States needs to commit every resource imaginable to fight this insidious disease. The lifesaving tool Narcan needs to be accessible to all concerned to help save a life in the interim of an overdose to find treatment. Treatment needs to be the appropriate level of care at the earliest intervention possible. Prevention!, Prevention-we must start educating and empowering our youngest of children with coping skills, relaxation techniques and communication skills… The time for discussion and committees is over- If the Ebola or the Zika virus had claimed the number of Americans lost to the disease of addiction- we would not be asking for funding. Addiction is a disease-not a choice! Addiction does not discriminate- no one is immune!!” – Linda Ventura, Substance Abuse & Addiction Activist, Founder of Thomas Hope Foundation
Kings Park Rallies To Combat Heroin and Opioid Epidemic
