Gillibrand announces support for families struggling with substance use

By Lina Wu
Posted 1/15/20

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) announced the Family Support Services for Addiction Act last Friday on a visit to Cornerstone Family Healthcare’s Center for Recovery.

The bipartisan …

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Gillibrand announces support for families struggling with substance use

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U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) announced the Family Support Services for Addiction Act last Friday on a visit to Cornerstone Family Healthcare’s Center for Recovery.

The bipartisan legislation administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services would start a $25 million grant program lasting over five years to help national and local nonprofits and community organizations offering resources of support to families. The legislation would also offer additional resources.

“Addressing the addiction crisis in our state requires supporting families who are impacted by the crisis every day,” said Gillibrand. “Families are often quickly thrown into a world of addiction and substance use disorder that they know little about, without the resources they need to support their loved ones.”

Cornerstone’s Center for Recovery is the largest medication assisted treatment program in Orange County. It is only one of many programs in the nation seeking to address the nation-wide addiction epidemic.
“We know firsthand how difficult recovery is,” said Linda Muller, Cornerstone Family Healthcare President. “It is difficult to come through our doors. It is difficult to be in the process. It is difficult to continue with sobriety. The piece of legislation that our senator is putting forward today will help support people in recovery; bringing the patient, the family, and the community together.”

“Our country and our state are in the midst of an addiction and mental health crisis,” said Gillibrand. “Orange County has felt the impact of the addiction crisis acutely.”

Nearly 500,000 people have died from opioid overdoses from 2016 to 2017. The average national rate of overdose deaths involving opioids was 14.6 deaths per 100,000 people. New York experienced 3,224 opioid overdose deaths or 16.1 deaths per 100,000 people. In 2018, there were 106 deaths from opioid overdoses in Orange County.

“The numbers are devastating, and unacceptable,” said Gillibrand. “We must remember these numbers are people. They are families, they are parts of our communities. It can change a family’s circumstances overnight.”

Although, organizations that combat addiction exist, there is limited government support for families struggling with substance abuse disorder. Frequently these services are not covered by insurance, and come at an additional cost to family members.

“I can’t fathom the fear and worry that a family member would face, when they have a family member that is addicted,” said Gillibrand.

The legislation would cover these family support services. Family support services include caregiver peer support, education and training, systems navigation for families trying to access treatment and other resources, counseling services, support groups for those in crisis and for those who have lost loved ones, and skill-building.

The legislation is co-sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV). It was introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. David Trone (D-MD) and Rep. Dan Meuser (R-PA). The legislation is endorsed by the Center on Addiction + Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, The Kennedy Forum, Delaware’s Attack Addiction, Alabama’s Not One More, Oklahoma’s Parents Helping Parents, New Jersey’s Hope Sheds Light, Pennsylvania’s Not One More, Drug Free Workplace PA, and Pennsylvania’s Family Education.