Governor Hochul Launches New Overdose Prevention Task Force

OASAS and DOH Hold Kickoff Meeting for Interagency Task Force on Overdose Prevention, Report Due Later This Fall

Announced in 2023 SOTS, Task Force to Increase Interagency Coordination, Analyze Success of State Programs, Explore Additional Solutions

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the kickoff meeting for the Interagency Task Force on Overdose Prevention. Governor Hochul announced the creation of this task force in the 2023 State of the State address. Chaired by Commissioners Dr. Chinazo Cunningham from the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports and Dr. James McDonald from the New York State Department of Health, the group includes experts across seventeen state agencies and offices working collaboratively to combat the overdose epidemic in New York State.

“In my 2023 State of the State address, I outlined our commitment to taking further steps to care for New Yorkers struggling with addiction across our state through the creation of the Interagency Task Force on Overdose Prevention,” Governor Hochul said. “Turning the tide on illegal substance use requires full coordination across our agencies, and today we take the next step in this ongoing vital work.”

The Interagency Task Force on Overdose Prevention will review the broad issue areas of illegal substance use prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction with attention to how substance users interact with education, healthcare, criminal justice, housing, and other social service entities. The group will produce a report of their findings in Fall 2023. The mission of the task force will be to increase programmatic coordination, analyze the success of existing state programs, and explore additional solutions to this crisis.

The Interagency Task Force on Overdose Prevention includes the below members:

Chair - OASAS: Commissioner Chinazo CunninghamChair - DOH: Commissioner James McDonaldOMH: Moira Tashjian, Executive Deputy CommissionerOCFS: Acting Commissioner Suzanne Miles-GustaveOTDA: Valerie T. Figueroa, Deputy Commissioner, Employment and Income Support ProgramsDVS: Dr. Lessie Branch, Special Assistant for Community EngagementSOFA: Charlie Williams, Assistant Director for Healthy Aging and LongevityESD: Maria Mitchell, Senior Vice President, Life SciencesDCJS: Joseph Popcun, Executive Deputy CommissionerDFS: Eamon Rock, Deputy Superintendent for Pharmacy BenefitsDOCCS: Dr. Carol Moores, Deputy Commissioner and Chief Medical OfficerSCOC: Ellen B. Tryon, RN, MAT Unit SupervisorDHSES: Luci Labriola-Cuffe, Deputy State Fire AdministratorSED: Kathleen DeCataldo, Senior Advisor for Student Support ServicesState Police: Captain James Browne, FC BCISUNY: Valerie Grey, Senior Vice Chancellor & Chief Hospital and Healthcare Operations OfficerCUNY: Pedro Mateu Gelabert, Associate Professor Community Health and Social Sciences

New York State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “The opioid crisis is not just a public health issue - it is a crisis of humanity that touches every corner of the State. Governor Hochul’s new Task Force on Overdose Prevention brings all facets of state government together to identify areas for greater collaboration and make specific recommendations on treatment, recovery, and harm reduction programs to expand access to care and save more lives.”

New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports Commissioner and Task Force on Overdose Prevention Chair Dr. Chinazo Cunningham said, “We continue to experience the worst overdose crisis in history. Governor Hochul’s Inter-Agency Overdose Epidemic Task Force will generate greater collaboration through education, cross training, and sharing of resources to help enhance the State’s efforts to save lives. Bringing so many agencies together to discuss their roles in addressing the epidemic is critically important.”

The Interagency Task Force on Overdose Prevention will hold two public listening sessions to be held in Albany and Staten Island. Members of the public who wish to submit public comment to the Task Force should email [email protected].