For IMMEDIATE Release: June 1, 2016

Contact: Michael Krogh, 518-455-5502

STEC: NO SENSE OF URGENCY IN ALBANY TO TACKLE HEROIN EPIDEMIC

Assemblyman Dan Stec (R,C,I-Queensbury) today attended a press conference where

Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb (R,C-Canandaigua), Sen. George A. Amedore Jr.,
Patty Farrell and Robert Lindsey highlighted the inaction toward combating the devastating
effects of heroin and opioid abuse.
If we act now, more families will be able to overcome the hardships heroin and opioid
abuse cause, said Stec. We strongly urge the Assembly to move forward with legislation before
the final day of session on June 16.
In 2013 Patty Farrell, retired detective of the Colonie Police Department, lost her 18year-old daughter, Laree, to a heroin overdose. Farrell hopes to educate and raise awareness by
sharing her daughters heartbreaking story. She advocates for expanded treatment for addicts,
tougher penalties for dealers, increased investigations and heightened vigilance by overly
trusting parents. Robert Lindsey is the CEO of Friends of Recovery, an organization comprised

of New York State residents who are in a long-term recovery from addiction, their families,
friends and allies.
For six months, the Assembly Minority Task Force on Heroin Addiction & Community
Response held forums all over New York State, collaborating with local officials, health care
providers, parents of addicted children and ex-drug abusers on the devastating effects of
addiction, the cost to communities and the cost to families. As a result, the task force produced a
comprehensive report detailing recommendations and solutions for prevention, education,
treatment and funding, which is included in the Heroin ELimination & Prevention Plan (HELP).
The Joint Senate Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Addiction recently released a report to
help combat the war on heroin and opioid abuse. The report discussed a four-pronged approach,
which includes prevention, treatment, recovery and enforcement.
This is not only a problem in New York, said Stec. The heroin epidemic is affecting
many other states as well. I hope the Assembly acts fast and takes up legislation to reduce the
number of tragedies associated with this deadly epidemic.

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