Legacy Healing Center Responds to New York State’s New Anti Addiction Laws

Cherry Hill, NJ - A package of bills was signed into law by New York Governor Kathy Hochul to help deal with the current opioid epidemic affecting individuals and communities across the state, including the governor’s own family. After experiencing the devastating effects of the opioid epidemic first hand, the crisis became a personal issue for Hochul, she said after sharing the tragic story of her nephew’s struggle with substance abuse and addiction.

The new anti-addiction laws will help to combat the opioid crisis by treating offenders not as criminals but rather as people who need professional help for substance use disorder. The laws will ban the practice of using naloxone as criminal evidence - the medication that can reverse an opioid overdose - decriminalize the possession and sale of syringes, and help to establish a statewide naloxone directory.

Hochul’s teenage nephew, Michael, was given opioid pain relievers to help recover from a small accident he was involved in while working at a deli part-time. The addictive nature of the opioid-based prescription drugs soon led to full-blown addiction and Michael found himself homeless and constantly seeking his next fix. He eventually went to prison and after serving out his sentence, it seemed that Michael had managed to turn his life around.

Michael became an addiction counselor and sports coach. But addiction is a chronic, relapsing disease and Michael relapsed. Tragically, his relapse led to a fatal fentanyl overdose.

Michael’s story is an all too familiar one as the opioid crisis devastates lives across America. Legacy Healing Center, a leading addiction treatment center serving the northeast region of the US, understands the dangers of opioid use disorder. They offer holistic behavioral healthcare that includes dual diagnosis treatment and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to help clients transform their lives and prevent relapse in the long term.

“Our legacy is to help each and every one of our clients to create a sober identity and to achieve a life free from the chains of active addiction so that they can be the best versions of [themselves], be productive members of society, and be the parents, children, siblings, and grandparents that they are intended to be,” said Chief Clinical Officer and CEO of Legacy Healing Center, David Levin.

The new state laws will offer a more compassionate approach and give people suffering from opioid use disorder a chance to receive the help they need without being automatically criminalized for their actions. Together with the efforts of accredited addiction treatment centers, the laws provide new hope for people in the depths of active addiction and those who care about them.

Anyone struggling with substance abuse, or concerned about a loved one, can speak to a treatment specialist at any time by calling (888) 534-2295. Visit www.legacyhealing.com to learn more or to live-chat with a counselor online.