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State Lawmakers Want To Track The Number Of Opioid Overdoses

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York state may soon begin tracking the number of nonfatal heroin and opioid overdoses.

The state Senate and Assembly agreed on legislation this week that will require the state's Department of Health to keep a record of how many people survive an overdose to get a more complete picture of the state's drug epidemic.

The bill now awaits action by Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

It would also require the state to examine regional overdose data to determine the areas with the gravest problems and help policymakers identify whether specific programs in one part of the state are saving lives.

The measure was sponsored by Republican Sen. George Amedore of Montgomery County, who served as co-chairman of a Senate task force on heroin and opioid abuse.

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