Congress passed legislation last session to remove barriers to certain drug addiction treatments.

For years, Justin Jackson battled addiction alone.

“I didn’t have help from my family, and I didn’t know where to look,” said Jackson, who is in recovery. “I’ve seen what this disease can do. I, myself, have overdosed in the past, and I’ve seen people lost.”

Jackson recalled the hurdles he would run into while seeking medication-assisted treatment, or MAT.

“You know, there were many times where I went to the hospital to try and detox, but they would do my drug urines, ask me where I’m at and turn me away,” he said.

Jackson's story is not unique, and his experiences are well known to providers who say whether it's insurance or red tape, in many cases, their hands are tied when it comes to prescribing medication to treat substance abuse.

“People need access. You can’t call up and say come in for an appointment in two weeks," said Laura Combs, executive director of New Choices Recovery Center. "We need to get people in right away.”

These were some of the stories Rep. Paul Tonko heard during a roundtable discussion on the issue Wednesday in Schenectady.

“Until a few weeks ago, the federal government, the law, made it easier to prescribe potentially addictive opioids than it was to treat someone,” Tonko said.

The congressman highlighted legislation recently signed into law. It eliminates a requirement that practitioners apply for a waiver through the Drug Enforcement Agency to prescribe buprenorphine for substance use disorder treatment, something Tonko said has had success in places like France.

“And overdose deaths declined by some 79% over a period of four years,” Tonko said.

Jackson said he’s hoping it improves access for people in his shoes, coming off the streets because he credits MAT as he nears six months being sober.

“From ambulatory services to getting on suboxone, MAT has just given me hope and clarity, so that way I can focus on my sobriety day to day, doing what I need to do,” he said.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated correcting attribution for the person quoted.