New York lawmakers are weighing how to combat addiction and a record rise in overdoses across the state in the last year with legislation that is meant to expand treatment programs and give more support to service providers. 

The measures advanced this week in a key state Senate panel are backed by Democratic state Sen. Nathalia Fernandez, who now leads the Committee on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse. 

“As I hit the ground running this legislative session, I’m proud to be starting off strong with these transformative bills that will get to the heart of the issues at hand,” Fernandez said. “As the newly appointed chair of the Committee on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, I have an urgent responsibility to move legislation that will bring relief and solutions to New Yorkers who are struggling. That’s what this week’s slate sets out to do, but we’re just getting started." 

One bill would require facilities that provide substance abuse disorder treatment to have at least one practitioner qualified to administer or prescribe buprenorphine. The drug can be used to treat opioid substance abuse disorders and addiction. 

Another measure would require hospitals to refer people to service providers for substance abuse problems when relevant. And a third measure would create a certified recovery task force that would create best practice rules for certified recovery living residences to support people recovering from chemical dependency. 

State health officials have reported a historic rise over the last several years in overdose deaths across New York, an increase that has coincided with the COVID pandemic. 

New York state is also starting to spend billions of dollars in settlement funds. Last month, Gov. Kathy Hochul's administration announced millions of dollars would be used to create low-threshold buprenorphine services for service providers.