New York Airs TV Special Showing How Opioid Settlement Billions Are Saving Lives
New York's OASAS produced a statewide TV special featuring real stories of naloxone saves and recovery, demonstrating how $454 million in opioid settlement funds are being deployed across communities.
New York State is taking an unusually direct approach to public education about the opioid crisis: a half-hour television special airing across every media market in the state, featuring real New Yorkers whose lives have been touched by addiction—and by the programs funded through opioid settlement dollars.
The program, titled Addiction: The Next Step, Opioid Settlements at Work, was produced by the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) and began airing in March. It represents one of the most visible efforts by any state to demonstrate to residents exactly how billions of dollars in pharmaceutical settlement money is being spent.
"We have made substantial strides in getting settlement money out the door, and this is making a difference throughout the state," said OASAS Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham in the program. "This program gives us a chance to highlight some of these accomplishments and also tells the personal stories of New Yorkers, allowing others to know that they are not alone."
From Loss to Action
The special features Kamal Bherwani, a Long Island father who lost his son to a fentanyl overdose. Bherwani has since become an advocate for broader naloxone access and developed an educational video game called Johanna's Vision that teaches players how to recognize overdose symptoms and administer the life-saving medication. His story illustrates a recurring theme in the program: the gap between available treatments and public awareness of how to use them.
In another segment, the program highlights Victor Nelson, a Poughkeepsie teenager who learned about naloxone in school and later used that knowledge to save a man's life in a local barbershop. Nelson had ordered a free naloxone kit through the state's online portal—a program that has distributed nearly 700,000 kits across New York in the past 18 months.
The Scale of Settlement Funding
New York has secured more than $3 billion through various settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors, the largest allocation of any state in the country. To date, over $454 million has been made available through the Opioid Settlement Fund, supporting everything from mobile medication units to recovery residences.
The program also features Victoria Treadwell, the 2023 Miss New York for America Strong, who speaks openly about her own recovery journey. Her inclusion underscores a message that OASAS has emphasized repeatedly: addiction affects people across all demographics, and recovery is possible with the right support.
Where to Watch
The television special aired throughout March on CBS, ABC, and NBC affiliates across New York State, including markets in Albany, Buffalo, Syracuse, and New York City. For those who missed the broadcast, the program is now available on-demand through OASAS's YouTube channel.
New Yorkers seeking addiction treatment or naloxone can call the state's HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY to 467369.
Written by
MTNYC Editorial TeamThe MTNYC Editorial Team is a group of healthcare writers, researchers, and addiction specialists dedicated to providing accurate, compassionate, and evidence-based information about addiction treatment and recovery resources in New York State.
