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Drug Task Force announces changes

By Joseph Abraham
Posted 1/10/23

SULLIVAN COUNTY –– A new year often ushers in change, and there are some new developments  with the Sullivan County Drug Task Force entering 2023.

Deputy Health and Human Services …

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Drug Task Force announces changes

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SULLIVAN COUNTY –– A new year often ushers in change, and there are some new developments  with the Sullivan County Drug Task Force entering 2023.

Deputy Health and Human Services Commissioner Wendy Brown, who co-chairs the Task Force, recently announced that Acting District Attorney Brian Conaty will be taking his predecessor, now State Supreme Court Justice, the Hon. Meagan Galligan’s place, in co-chairing with her.

Conaty said he was excited to co-chair with Brown, adding that he, “Looks forward to working together with the other pillars in an effort to curb the opioid epidemic and provide the necessary resources to those battling addiction to obtain the treatment they need.” 

The Task Force is also adding a new pillar focusing on veterans, which will be co-led by Ryan Fuller, a Veterans Advocate in Action Toward Independence’s Vet 2 Vet program, and Carl LoFaro from the Hudson Valley VA Healthcare system.

Another change is Liberty Police Chief Steven D’Agata teaming with Sheriff Mike Schiff to lead the law enforcement pillar. D’Agata said he was honored to be asked to co-chair the pillar with the Sheriff.

“Combating the opioid crisis has been and continues to be a top priority for my police department,” said D’Agata. “I believe that law enforcement in our County is uniquely positioned to have a profound impact on individuals suffering from substance use disorder.”

He added that thanks to the “unprecedented collaboration” with Hope Not Handcuffs, they are able to offer individuals in the community a pathway to treatment and recovery never previously available. 

“I am looking forward to working with all of my partners in law enforcement,” said D’Agata, “and the community at large to build upon and expand the great work we have already accomplished.”

 Other pillar leads are: Medical Provider Pillar - Nicholas Batson and Heather Guinan-Clark; Hope & Prevention Pillar- Jill Hubert-Simon and Dawn Wilkin; United Sullivan Pillar - John Liddle and Martin Colavito; Policy Reform Pillar - NYS Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther and Judy Balaban; Treatment Programs Pillar - Melissa Stickle; Care (Perinatal) Pillar - Karen Holden and Janna Walter; and Data Pillar - Lorne Green and the future Sullivan County Commissioner of Public Safety, when hired.

Public safety briefs

Brown shared some statistics taken from the County’s ODMAP during Thursday’s Public Safety and Law Enforcement Committee meeting.

According to Brown, for the year 2022 and the start of 2023, there have been 215 overdoses in the County, 25 fatalities and 140 incidents of Narcan being used on a call. 

In his report to legislators as Acting DA, Conaty said that in 2022, the DA’s office’s indictments and Superior Court information numbers rebounded back to pre-pandemic levels. 

“This is a critical statistic considering the new burdens imposed by 2020 Discovery reforms,” said Conaty.

He also reported that on January 4, members of the New York State Police’s Violent Gang and Narcotics Enforcement team and the Sullivan County District Attorney’s office executed a no knock search warrant in the Village of Monticello, which resulted in a seizure of a large quantity of crack cocaine and fentanyl. 

He also said that the DA’s office and the NYS Police are investigating reports of shots fired at the Citgo gas station in Monticello on January 3. 

State legislation

On Thursday, Brown mentioned a State legislative package recently signed into law by NYS Governor Kathy Hochul, which does the following: Prohibits copayments for treatment at opioid treatment programs; Requires the Department of Health to publish reports on their website detailing sales of opioids sold in the State; Requires the Office of Addiction Services and Supports to develop training materials for screening for alcoholism and chemical dependency; 

Requires doctors to consider non-opioid treatments before prescribing an opioid for patients experiencing pain; and establishes a program for nightlife establishments to carry opioid antagonists and authorize training to prevent overdoses.

“My Administration is committed to working every day to fight substance use disorder and providing New Yorkers with further access to lifesaving resources, services, and care,” said Hochul. “I am proud to sign this legislative package into law which will support countless New Yorkers struggling with addiction and save lives.

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