Lawmakers for the state of New York have called on both President Biden and Governor Cuomo to declare a state and federal emergency related to the rise in overdose related deaths this year.
Senator Peter Harckham, a lawmaker on the Senate Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Committee, released the letter.
The CDC released information showing that overdose death increased from 2019 to 2020 by 93,000.
A state of emergency would give officials address to necessary resources that would address the issue.
It is clear that the federal Government and the State of New York need to marshal every public health resource possible to stop the frightening increase in overdose deaths that are occurring every day in our cities and villages. https://t.co/SKJORBLEID
— Senator Pete Harckham (@SenatorHarckham) July 21, 2021
Though the state is part of a law suit against drug makers where billions will be gained, Harckham believes there has been a lack of attention surrounding the issue of opioids and overdoses.
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