Senator Akshar announces funding for heroin and opioid education, prevention and counseling

Senator Fred Akshar recently joined representatives from Lourdes Youth Services, Chenango County Behavioral Health, the Addiction Center of Broome County (ACBC) and CASA-Trinity to announce $385,000 in state funds for heroin and opioid education, prevention and counseling.

The funding includes $175,000 to Lourdes Youth Services for school-based prevention counseling including The Project to Reduce Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Use that’s a collaboration with six school districts – Binghamton, BOCES East Learning Center, Chenango Forks, Deposit, Maine-Endwell and Whitney Point; $95,000 to CASA-Trinity for school-based prevention counseling and an opioid and heroin awareness campaign; $70,000 to Chenango County Behavioral Health for ALL-STARS Prevention and Education Curriculum that targets students between the ages of 11 and 13 years old; and $25,000 to Addiction Center of Broome County for a kitchen expansion, security upgrades and ambulatory detox.

“Thank you to our local organizations that educate our young people on the dangers of opioid abuse and provide services to those suffering from addiction,” said Senator Fred Akshar. 

He continued, “We must continue to work together as a community and invest more in education, prevention, counseling and treatment to fight this epidemic. I’m glad I could play a small role in securing funding for these organizations, who are on the front-lines of the heroin and opioid crisis.” 

Ann Domingos, CEO of CASA-Trinity and Christina Olevano, prevention supervisor, stated, “CASA-Trinity Prevention program in Tioga County is excited to partner with Senator Akshar to provide targeted substance abuse prevention on an awareness campaign, with a focus on prescription opioid and heroin use prevention. With this initiative, CASA-Trinity Prevention Services aims to work closely with local schools, law enforcement, media, and other key community stakeholders. Without Senator’s support, there would be many community members that we would not be able to reach.”