State Senate holding public hearing Wednesday on COVID-19 impacts on overdose crisis

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — There’s a public hearing Wednesday morning on the impacts of COVID-19 on the overdose crisis.

State Senators on the task force will review New York’s overdose-death rates and they’ll be talking to stakeholders about the current system.

Last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the highest number of overdoses ever recorded in a 12-month period at more than 93,000.

According to Chair of the Senate Mental Health Committee Sen. Samra Brouk (D, 55), Monroe County has seen a 31% increase in opioid overdoses since the pandemic started in March of 2020.

Wednesday’s hearing is in Albany and oral testimony is by invitation only, but it will be live-streamed here. It is scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m.

Senate Democrats say the results of the hearing will build on legislation that Gov. Kathy Hochul recently signed into law in the hope of reducing overdose deaths.

If you or a loved one is struggling with opioid addiction, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office has resources available here.