WHEREAS, it is widely recognized that the nation is facing an opioid crisis, and opioid addiction has devastated countless families right here in Ulster County; and

WHEREAS, in their September 15, 2015 report, the Ulster County Legislature’s Advisory Committee, the Ulster Coalition Against Narcotics, found that unused portions of prescription medications pose a serious health and safety risk to individuals and families, especially school aged youth; and

WHEREAS, Ulster County government understands that partnerships are necessary to battle this crisis, as evidenced by those established with various stakeholders and interested parties to ensure millions in grant funding for Ulster County to help deliver comprehensive prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery programs; and

WHEREAS, Ulster County government has long understood the importance of medication drop boxes as a tool for taking narcotics off the street and out of the hands of children and applaud the New York State Legislature for acting as a partner and passing, and New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo for signing into law, the New York State Drug Take Back Act on July 10, 2018; and

WHEREAS, the NYS Drug Take Back Act took effect on January 6, 2019; and

WHEREAS, draft regulations were published in Fall 2019, with the public comment period on those regulations closing on December 2, 2019; and

WHEREAS, final regulations still have not been published 9+ months after close of the comment period, with the component of pharmaceutical manufacturers’ take-back plans and NYS Department of Health review of said plans being 13+ months late; and

WHEREAS, while the Ulster County Legislature recognizes the strain the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the NYS Department of Health, and commends all efforts exerted to help gain control in our state, the Ulster County Legislature has a duty to maintain its commitment to fight the opioid epidemic under all circumstances; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, the Ulster County Legislature herby urges the New York State Department of Health to finalize the regulations necessary to implement the Drug Take Back Act within 30 days; and, be it further

RESOLVED, the Clerk of the Ulster County Legislature shall forward copies of this resolution to Governor Andrew Cuomo, all Ulster County elected Assemblymembers and Senators, and the New York State Department of Health