A pair of new laws now in effect are meant to help New Yorkers access treatment for addiction treatment and services in the state. 

The measures were touted on Wednesday in recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day, which comes amid a spike in overdose deaths in New York and around the country. 

The new laws are meant to boost the ombudsman program at the Community Health Access to Addiction and Mental Health Project. 

One measure will require the ombudsman program to release an annual report meant to increase transparency and find areas in need of systemic changes. 

And relatedly, the program will be expanded to include representatives from officials at the Division of Veterans’ Services, Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, Office of Children and Family Services and Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. 

“When residents with Substance Use Disorder, especially veterans and those with unique abilities, are trying to access help they need, any obstacles they encounter or frustrations they experience may cause them to forgo treatment and relapse,” said state Sen. Peter Harckham, chair of the Senate Committee on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse. “The ombudsman program is a significant resource, and to save as many lives as possible it needs to reach those in the community that may be receiving help already from other agencies.”

The program created an ombudsman role in 2018 meant to help New Yorkers with treatment access and insurance coverage for addiction services, helping them navigate a complicated system. 

The program also helps New York residents file and resolve complaints and a violation of rights under the law, including denial of services, medication and discrimination issues.