The Council On Addiction Recovery Services Inc. in Cattaraugus County recently received $200,000 to help fight opioid addiction.

Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand recently announced $600,000 in federal funding for three organizations across Upstate New York that work to mitigate opioid addiction and abuse. The funding will be specifically used for opioid response planning and will help to create prevention, treatment, and recovery plans in addition to forming coalitions across community stakeholders. The funding was awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through its Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP).

“The opioid epidemic in Upstate New York is a symptom of this national emergency, and we need to fight back now. With this vital funding, Health Alliance/Westchester Medical Center Health Network, the Alcohol & Substance Abuse Council of Jefferson County and the Council on Addiction Recovery Services can further the hard work of prevention and treatment,” said Schumer. “I am proud to announce this critical funding and will continue working to help ensure that Upstate communities have the resources they need to make a difference in this fight.”

“The opioid epidemic is tearing families apart all across New York, and it is particularly devastating to our Upstate rural communities,” said Gillibrand. “This federal funding will be used to support organizations that are working tirelessly to serve people who suffer from opioid addiction. I will continue to fight for the resources our communities need to end the opioid crisis once and for all.”

HHS allocated this funding through RCORP, a one year planning grant. This program provides grants to public and private organizations who treat and prevent substance use disorder, including opioid use disorder, in rural communities at the highest risk for substance use disorder as identified by the Centers for Disease Control. RCORP is a part of a multi-year opioid-focused effort by Health Resources and Service Administration that will include improving access to and recruitment of new substance use disorder providers, building sustainable treatment resources, increasing Tele-Health usage, establishing cross-sector community partnerships, implementing new models of care including integrated behavioral health, and providing technical assistance.

The Council on Addition Recovery Services, Inc. was the only organization in Western New York to receive funding. The other two organizations to receive funds are located in Delaware and Jefferson counties.