Westchester Reporter

Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins and New York Attorney General Letitia James recently convened with members of the Westchester County Opioid Response and Overdose Prevention Initiative. The meeting focused on how funds have been allocated to local organizations combatting addiction and overdose deaths.

The county received $5.8 million from a 2019 lawsuit filed by James against several drug distributors and manufacturers. This funding, provided through the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports Regional Opioid Abatement Funding, aims to address overdose deaths in Westchester. The meeting allowed advocates and providers who received grants to share their efforts in treatment, prevention, recovery, harm reduction, and training programs.

Ken Jenkins expressed gratitude towards Letitia James for her leadership: "I want to thank Attorney General James for her leadership and for coming to Westchester County to learn more about the important work being done here. Westchester has made tremendous efforts to put this money to work in multiple ways to ensure that we are reaching the most people in need."

Attorney General Letitia James commented on the broader impact of the opioid crisis: "The opioid crisis has impacted communities, and families, throughout every corner of New York state. I am proud of the work my office has done to secure major settlements, and more than $3 billion for New York, from opioid manufacturers and distributors."

Michael Orth, Commissioner of Community Mental Health Department, emphasized Westchester's initiatives: "Westchester has been at the forefront of finding ways to use these settlement funds to reach every community in our county. We are expanding Medication-Assisted Treatment at our County Correction Department and have created new programs to educate and train a new Peer workforce in our Lives Forward program."

The allocated funds covered an 18-month period ending December 2024 with plans for a second round in 2025.