As you know, New York State has been very hard hit by the opiate epidemic that is sweeping our great nation.   We have lost more New York State residents to the opiate epidemic than to any other disaster, natural or otherwise, in our nation's history. It is a fact that "in 2013, the latest full year for which data are available, the number of reported drug overdose deaths increased to 2,175, a 41 percent increase from 2009" (NYS Opioid Poisoning, Overdose and Prevention 2015 Report to the Governor and NYS Legislature).  That works out to an average of 42 people per week IN NEW YORK STATE ALONE who died of an opiate overdose in 2013.  These numbers are alarming, Governor Cuomo.  When one considers that these numbers have increased steadily since the publication of the aforementioned statistics, it becomes even more alarming.

We the people are asking as a collective body, why hasn't a State of Emergency been declared for our people?  We are losing our sons and daughters, our husbands and wives, our mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers.  Each and every life lost to this epidemic has touched all of us in one way or another.  You'd be hard pressed to find a single resident of New York who has not, in one way or another, been touched by the addiction problem of someone very near to them.

Those of us who are watching a loved one fight this battle without proper ammunition are afraid. We have watched as our loved ones seek help and are turned away for lack of beds.   This scenario is NOT the exception, it is the norm.  This is simply not acceptable.  We have watched as our loved ones have been fed pill after pill and become addicted, and then turned away by those same providers when they attempt to become well.  

We need to declare a State of Emergency in New York and acquire emergency funding so that we can open facilities and arm our loved ones with the detoxification and rehabilitation beds that are in such short supply and great demand here in our great state. 

We have waited long enough to know that this epidemic is not going to be over any time soon.  

We are hereby asking you to issue a State of Emergency for our state of New York for the purpose of acquiring emergency funding.  This emergency funding is absolutely necessary in order to open additional facilities that are equipped to assist and arm our loved ones with the medical attention necessary to realistically and safely detoxify their bodies, minds and spirits of this substance that is killing an entire generation.  We do not need shiny new buildings that will house our sick and dying opiate addicted people.  We have empty school buildings, medical facilities, motels, store fronts.  Desperate times call for desperate measures.  These are desperate times, Mr. Cuomo.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this dire matter.  The people of New York State are counting on you to help save an entire generation.