In 2019 and 2020, Monroe County lost far too many residents to opioid overdoses. While our community has made significant efforts to support residents with treatment, education, and by helping to stop the stigma associated with this public health crisis, there is still much more to be done. That is why I was proud to work on both “Maisie’s Law” and the Huther Doyle Mobile Treatment Unit to help our county and local community.
I was honored to collaborate on and submit with bipartisan sponsorship “Maisie’s Law” in remembrance of Maisie Gillan, an infant who tragically died of an accidental overdose in 2019. Opioid antagonists, such as naloxone/Narcan, are effective in neutralizing the effects of an opioid overdose. While naloxone has been available at pharmacies for a while now, there has been no formal requirement to make sure those who are prescribed opioids are aware of this fact. “Maisie’s Law” ensures that pharmacies are providing notice that opioid antagonists, like Narcan, are available without a prescription whenever an individual is prescribed an opioid prescription. I was happy to work with my fellow legislators, local pharmacies, the County Public Health Department and the County Law Department to ensure that this local law is feasible and, more importantly, that it helps as many people as possible.
Inaccessibility to services is a huge issue that we face when it comes to addressing the opioid epidemic. We must continue to remove barriers to treatment. I was pleased to hear about Huther Doyle’s action in response to being awarded a grant from the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) to purchase a Mobile Treatment Unit for the west side of Monroe County and the surrounding area. The Mobile Treatment Unit will be hitting the road starting this spring to provide substance use services. The unit will be staffed with counselors, peers, and medical providers, offering state of the art treatment services to its participants. The idea of transporting substance use disorder treatment right to our community is innovative and will undeniably have a meaningful impact on those who may be struggling. Combating the opioid epidemic continues to be a community effort, which is why I was happy to help coordinate and organize meetings with Joel Yager, Director of Clinical Services at Huther Doyle and town supervisors and village mayors in our community to tell them about this service and find a location within their municipality for the Mobile Treatment Unit.
Both of these initiatives have the potential to save the lives of our family, friends, and neighbors right here in Monroe County and in our hometowns. I will continue to work with elected leaders and community partners to seek out innovative ways to help the most vulnerable in our area.
Jackie Smith
County Legislator – District 2
