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Schumer Wants More Funding to Fight Opioid Abuse

Sen. Charles Schumer
Sen. Charles Schumer

Senator Charles Schumer says the battle against heroin and opiod abuse is dramatically underfunded, and he's calling for emergency funding to confront the epidemic.

On a conference call with reporters, Schumer said there have been a total of 475 opioid-related deaths in the Rochester-Finger lakes region from 2004 to 2013.

And the number of deaths increased from 9 in 2004 to 61 in 2013.

"It affects urban areas, suburban areas, rural areas. It affects poor people, middle class and rich people.  It affects black people, brown and white people. It affects everybody."

Credit npr.org

Schumer says the recently passed Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, or CARA, is a critical first step, but more must be done to supplement that bill.

He's challenging Congress to pass legislation that would provide an additional $600 million dollars for prevention, treatment and emergency first responders.

"Provide more money for law enforcement, to stop the flow of these drugs into our community, and to provide money for counseling and treatment, which we know can help cure kids, and provide money for education."

He says the bill has the support of law enforcement and the support of the treatment community.

He says everyone knows you've got to do both.

Schumer is a co-sponsor of the Opioid and Heroin Epidemic Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act.