newsopioidtreatmentNew York Issues Urgent Warning on Kratom and 7-OH: What Users Need to KnowState health officials are raising alarms about kratom and its potent derivative 7-hydroxymitragynine as new data shows a 1,200% increase in poison center calls.May 21, 20265 min read
newstreatmentrecoveryRFK Jr. Takes Addiction Recovery Message to Los Angeles in Latest 'Take Back Your Health' StopHealth and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. brought his nationwide 'Take Back Your Health' tour to Los Angeles last week, meeting with county officials and behavioral health providers to discuss strategies for addressing substance use disorder and homelessness.May 20, 20264 min read
newspreventionnew-yorkNew York Wants Young People to Create Their Own Anti-Drug Ads—And Put Them on BillboardsNew York's addiction agency is betting that young people know best how to reach their peers. The new 'Drop Your POV' campaign puts youth in the director's chair, offering a platform for authentic voices on billboards, TV, and social media.May 19, 20265 min read
newscrisismental-healthSAMHSA Awards $255 Million to 988 Crisis Lifeline—With New York-Based Administrator at the HelmThe 988 Lifeline has handled over 25 million crisis contacts since its 2022 launch. New federal funding will expand capacity as data shows 14.3 million adults had serious thoughts of suicide in the past year.May 18, 20264 min read
newsoverdosefentanylU.S. Overdose Deaths Drop to 70,000 in 2025—Lowest Since Before COVID, But New York Faces Rising ThreatsNew federal data reveals the third consecutive year of declining overdose deaths, yet policy changes and emerging synthetic drugs threaten progress in New York.May 14, 20266 min read
newspolicytreatmentAddiction Support Groups Want New York to Cap Treatment Costs at $250A coalition of addiction support organizations has sent a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul urging a $250 cap on out-of-pocket costs for outpatient addiction treatment. The proposal aims to remove financial barriers that prevent many New Yorkers from accessing care.May 13, 20264 min read
newsfentanyloverdoseDEA Issues Urgent Warning to World Cup Visitors: 29% of Street Pills Contain Lethal FentanylAs the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, the DEA is warning visitors that recreational drug use in the United States carries unprecedented risks. According to federal laboratory data, 29% of pills seized nationwide contain lethal doses of fentanyl—a synthetic opioid so potent that just two milligrams can kill.May 12, 20265 min read
newsrecoverytreatmentNYC Is Hiring 500 Former Addicts to Help Others Recover—And Paying Them $12 MillionNew York City will invest $12 million from opioid manufacturer settlements to hire 500 peer recovery specialists—people with lived experience of addiction who are trained to help others find treatment and stay in recovery.May 11, 20264 min read
newspolicyfederalWhite House Unveils 2026 National Drug Control Strategy—But Critics Question How It Will WorkThe 195-page strategy document outlines ambitious goals for addiction treatment and prevention, but public health experts point to contradictions with the administration's funding cuts and policy changes.May 8, 20265 min read
newsharm-reductionnaloxoneVending Machines for Naloxone Are Saving Lives in New York. A New Study Shows How.A pair of studies published in medical journals confirms that harm reduction vending machines across New York State are reaching high-risk individuals who might otherwise lack access to overdose reversal medication and drug testing supplies.May 7, 20266 min read
newsfentanyloverdoseA New Synthetic Opioid 10 Times Stronger Than Fentanyl Is Showing Up in New YorkHealth officials are tracking a new class of synthetic opioids called orphines that have begun appearing in the U.S. drug supply, including New York. The most common variant, cychlorphine, is approximately 10 times more potent than fentanyl.May 6, 20265 min read
newspolicytreatmentRFK Jr. Wants to Transform U.S. Addiction Treatment Using a Controversial Italian ModelHHS Secretary RFK Jr. wants to replace medication-assisted treatment with wellness farms based on an Italian model that rejects proven medications like buprenorphine and methadone.May 5, 20266 min read
newssettlementfundingPurdue Pharma Is Shut Down Forever. New York Just Secured $250 Million for Addiction Treatment.The company that made OxyContin and fueled the opioid crisis is now defunct. New York Attorney General Letitia James secured $250 million for the state as part of a historic $7.4 billion settlement that bars the Sackler family from the opioid business forever.May 4, 20265 min read
newspolicyfederalSAMHSA Issues New Guidance on Addiction Treatment—Restricting Harm Reduction and Emphasizing CounselingNew federal guidance restricts SAMHSA funding for harm reduction supplies while requiring counseling services alongside medication treatment, marking a significant policy shift.May 1, 20266 min read
newsmental-healthtreatmentNew York Launches 10-Year Gambling Addiction Study as Betting Expands StatewideAs New York approves three new casino locations and mobile sports betting surges, the state is launching an unprecedented 10-year study to understand gambling addiction patterns and direct resources where they're needed most.April 30, 20266 min read
newspolicyfentanylSAMHSA Bans Federal Funds for Fentanyl Test Strips and Syringes—A Major Shift in U.S. Drug PolicyThe Trump administration is cutting off federal funding for fentanyl test strips, sterile syringes, and other harm reduction supplies through a new SAMHSA directive that reverses years of overdose prevention policy.April 28, 20266 min read
newstreatmentresearchFDA Fast-Tracks Psychedelic Therapies for Depression, PTSD, and Alcohol Use Disorder—What It Means for New YorkThe FDA announced sweeping actions to accelerate psychedelic treatments, including priority vouchers for psilocybin and methylone, plus the first-ever U.S. clinical trial of an ibogaine derivative for alcohol use disorder.April 27, 20266 min read
newsfentanyloverdoseA Veterinary Tranquilizer Is Now in 1 in 4 New York Opioid Samples—and It Doesn't Respond to NarcanNew peer-reviewed research reveals medetomidine, a veterinary tranquilizer, has infiltrated New York's opioid supply. The drug doesn't respond to naloxone and was linked to 134 overdose deaths in NYC last year.April 23, 20265 min read
newsresearchtreatmentFeds Launch $139 Million Project to Transform Addiction Treatment—And It Could Change How New Yorkers Get CareA new federal initiative aims to end the trial-and-error approach to mental health and addiction treatment by developing objective, measurable biomarkers—potentially bringing faster relief to millions of Americans, including those in New York.April 22, 20266 min read
newsfundingfederalThe $2 Billion Cut: How Federal Funding Losses Are Hitting New York's Addiction Treatment ProgramsFederal grants supporting overdose prevention, naloxone distribution, and peer recovery services were abruptly cancelled in January, putting New York's addiction treatment infrastructure at risk.April 21, 20266 min read
newsfundingfederalTrump Administration Terminates Hundreds of SAMHSA Grants, Threatening Addiction Treatment NationwideFederal funding cuts to SAMHSA grants put overdose prevention, naloxone distribution, and peer recovery programs at risk across the United States. The terminations affect programs that millions of Americans rely on.April 20, 20264 min read
newsfentanyloverdoseA Drug 100 Times Stronger Than Fentanyl Is Spreading. New York's DEA Is Racing to Contain It.Federal agents are tracking a disturbing shift in the drug supply: as fentanyl seizures decline, carfentanil—originally developed as an elephant tranquilizer—is filling the void. The DEA's New York division calls it one of the most significant threats in years.April 18, 20266 min read
newsfentanyloverdoseDEA Dismantles Three Fentanyl Mills in NYC, Seizing 90 Pounds of Deadly NarcoticsThe DEA's New York Task Force Division dismantled three unrelated fentanyl packaging mills within a six-hour operation, seizing over 90 pounds of fentanyl with an estimated street value of $7.5 million.April 16, 20264 min read
newssettlementnew-yorkNew York Airs TV Special Showing How Opioid Settlement Billions Are Saving LivesA new television program airing across New York State puts faces to the opioid crisis—and shows how settlement money is funding prevention, treatment, and harm reduction programs that are reversing overdose trends.April 15, 20264 min read
newsfentanyloverdoseFree Substance Use Summit Coming to Rochester April 18Monroe County is hosting a free Substance Use Family Summit on April 18 at East High School, bringing together families, professionals, and peers affected by addiction.April 14, 20263 min read
newsoverdosefentanylU.S. Overdose Deaths Keep Plummeting—But New York's Drug Supply Is Getting More DangerousWhile fatal overdoses drop nationwide thanks to less potent fentanyl and better care, New York faces a new threat from synthetic drugs more powerful than anything seen before.April 13, 20267 min read
newspolicyfederalNew York's Top Addiction Official Warns $13 Billion Medicaid Cut Could 'Destabilize' Treatment System StatewideAt a Penn conference, NY's addiction services commissioner warned that losing $13 billion in Medicaid funding would force impossible choices between prevention, treatment, and harm reduction—and likely cost lives.April 9, 20268 min read
newscannabismental-healthNew York's Cannabis Treatment System Is Collapsing Just as Youth Need It MostAs New York legalizes adult cannabis use, the state's treatment infrastructure for young people struggling with marijuana addiction is shrinking. Admissions have fallen by half in eight years, emergency departments lack linkage programs, and pediatricians aren't trained to spot the problem.April 8, 20267 min read
newscannabistreatmentNew York's Cannabis Treatment Admissions Dropped 50% While ER Visits Doubled—And Young People Are Falling Through the CracksCannabis treatment admissions in New York have dropped 50% since 2016, even as marijuana-related emergency department visits have more than doubled. Young people struggling with high-potency cannabis face a treatment system that wasn't designed for them—and the state is scrambling to catch up.April 7, 20268 min read
newspolicyfederalWhite House Budget Proposes 12% Cut to Health Agency Funding Addiction Treatment NationwideThe Trump administration's fiscal 2027 budget would slash federal health funding by 12.5%, consolidating and eliminating programs at SAMHSA that fund addiction treatment across New York. Congress has final say, but the proposal creates immediate uncertainty for providers.April 6, 20267 min read
newsnaloxoneharm-reductionNYC Honors Public Health Worker Behind Naloxone Vending Machines That Distributed 4,500 Overdose KitsNew York City recognized a dozen public servants for innovative projects that improve city services. Among the winners: Roxanne Anderson, who launched vending machines that dispense free naloxone, syringes, and harm reduction supplies across the city.April 3, 20264 min read
newsfederalfundingFeds Drop $100 Million on New Addiction Program That Targets Homelessness—And Faith Groups Are InThe Trump administration just announced a $100 million program to tackle addiction among homeless Americans. Faith-based groups are eligible—but the fine print shows ties to a controversial executive order on involuntary treatment.April 2, 20267 min read
newsfederalfundingFederal Government Launches $100 Million Program to Connect People Experiencing Addiction and Homelessness with Housing and TreatmentThe U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced a $100 million federal investment in the STREETS Initiative, aiming to expand treatment, outreach, and housing support for people experiencing addiction and homelessness.March 31, 20264 min read
NnewsopioidfundingNew York Airs Statewide Documentary Showing Where Billions in Opioid Settlement Funds Are GoingA new 30-minute documentary produced by OASAS is airing statewide this month, revealing where hundreds of millions in opioid settlement dollars are going—and putting faces to the crisis through personal stories of loss, survival, and recovery.March 30, 20267 min read
newsnaloxonepolicyNew York Just Became First State to Require Naloxone in Workplace First Aid KitsEmployers who maintain first aid kits under federal OSHA rules will soon be required to include naloxone, the opioid overdose reversal drug. The law takes effect December 13, 2026.March 27, 20264 min read
newspolicynaloxoneNew York Now Requires Naloxone in Workplace First Aid Kits. Here's What Employers Need to Know.AB 9453 expands workplace safety requirements across New York, mandating naloxone in first aid supplies at thousands of worksites by the end of 2026.March 26, 20264 min read
newspolicyopioidFederal Government Moves to Ban Synthetic Opioid Sold in Gas Stations Before It Triggers the Next Addiction CrisisFederal regulators are racing to ban a synthetic opioid that's been sold legally in convenience stores and vape shops across the country. The substance, 7-hydroxymitragynine—known as 7-OH—is a concentrated byproduct of the kratom plant that officials say is as addictive as heroin and more potent than morphine.March 25, 20268 min read
newsdeep-divefederalWhiplash at HHS: How Trump's $2 Billion Grant Cuts Threw New York's Addiction Treatment System Into Chaos—Then Reversed in 24 HoursIn January, the Trump administration sent termination letters to thousands of mental health and addiction programs nationwide. New York's safety net scrambled. Then, 24 hours later, the money came back. But the chaos didn't end there.March 20, 20268 min read
newsopioidrecoveryNew York Airs Rare Statewide TV Program on Opioid Crisis — Here's What It ShowsA 30-minute program airing across New York this month gives the public an inside look at how the state is using hundreds of millions in opioid settlement money—and tells the stories of New Yorkers who've lived through addiction and recovery.March 19, 20267 min read
newspolicyfentanylDEA Just Banned Three Synthetic Opioids Stronger Than Fentanyl. Why New York Should Pay Attention.The DEA placed three nitazene-class synthetic opioids into Schedule I effective March 11, 2026. These substances are up to 40 times more potent than fentanyl and have been detected in overdose deaths nationwide.March 17, 20268 min read
newsfederalfundingFederal Government Announces $100M 'STREETS' Program to Connect Homeless People With Addiction to Housing and TreatmentThe new STREETS Initiative marks a departure from prior harm reduction policies, directing $100 million toward outreach, psychiatric care, and housing for Americans experiencing homelessness and addiction.March 16, 20267 min read
newsmedicaidfundingFederal Medicaid Probe Threatens Coverage for 1.7 Million New Yorkers — Including Those Seeking Addiction TreatmentThe Trump administration has opened a fraud investigation into New York's $124 billion Medicaid program, threatening to freeze payments if the state doesn't respond within 30 days. For the 1.7 million New Yorkers who depend on Medicaid-funded health care—including thousands in addiction treatment—the stakes couldn't be higher.March 13, 20268 min read
newsoasasfundingNew York Airs Documentary on $3B Opioid Settlement SpendingA new documentary airing across New York gives the public its first look at how the state is deploying $3 billion in opioid settlement funds, including personal stories from families who lost loved ones and teens who learned to save lives with naloxone.March 12, 20264 min read
newsnaloxonepolicyNew York Employers Must Now Keep Naloxone Where First Aid Kits Are RequiredNew York recently amended its labor laws to require private employers who maintain workplace first aid supplies to also stock naloxone or another FDA-approved opioid antagonist. The change comes as workplace overdose deaths continue to rise nationwide.March 11, 20264 min read
newsmental-healthfundingFederal Government Opens $69 Million in Mental Health Grants, Targets Suicide Prevention and Youth CareThe federal government is making $69 million available to healthcare systems, states, and community providers working on youth mental health, suicide prevention, and involuntary treatment programs.March 10, 20267 min read
newstreatmentmatNYC's Largest Hospital System Just Released Its Year-Two Addiction Treatment Report. Here's What Changed.The city's public hospital system expanded street outreach, emergency-based addiction treatment, and contingency management programs as part of its three-year Behavioral Health Blueprint.March 5, 20268 min read
newstreatmentpolicyNYC's Largest Hospital System Will Pay Patients to Stay in Addiction TreatmentThe city's public hospital system is rolling out a new approach to addiction treatment that pays patients small rewards for hitting recovery goals—starting with people involuntarily removed from the streets under controversial mental health laws.March 4, 20268 min read
opioidfentanyloverdoseFederal Lab Develops New Drug That Could Cut Fentanyl Overdose Recovery Time in HalfLawrence Livermore National Laboratory researchers have developed subetadex, a new compound that cuts fentanyl overdose recovery time from 35 to 17 minutes and remains active in the body for 7.5 hours — compared to Narcan's 30-80 minutes.March 3, 20268 min read
newspolicynaloxoneNew York Workplaces Will Be Required to Stock Overdose Medication by Next YearStarting December 2026, New York employers required to maintain first aid supplies must stock naloxone to reverse opioid overdoses. The new law signed by Governor Hochul aims to combat a crisis that claimed over 4,500 lives in 2024.February 27, 20265 min read
newspolicynaloxoneNew York Law Will Require Naloxone in Workplace First Aid Kits by DecemberThousands of New York employers will need to add naloxone to workplace first aid kits under a law signed February 13. The requirement takes effect December 13, 2026, covering any private business already required by federal rules to maintain first aid supplies.February 26, 20263 min read
newsrecoveryfundingNew York Invests $42.9 Million in Job Training for People in Addiction RecoveryEvery region of New York will get dedicated vocational counselors to help people in recovery find stable work. The five-year initiative targets one of the biggest barriers to lasting recovery: unemployment.February 24, 20264 min read
policyfederaltreatmentNew Federal Rules for Addiction Treatment Records Just Took Effect. Here's What Patients in New York Should Know.For decades, addiction treatment records were governed by some of the strictest privacy rules in American healthcare. On February 16, federal enforcement of sweeping updates to those rules officially began. What changed, what stayed the same, and what it means for New Yorkers seeking help.February 19, 20266 min read
