Referred to: The Public Health and Social Services Committee (Chairman Lopez and

Legislators Allen, Belfiglio, Litts and Provenzano), and The Law Enforcement and

Public Safety Committee (Chairman Briggs and Legislators Gregorius, Loughran,

Maio, and Ronk)

Legislators Carl Belfiglio, John Parete and Mary Wawro and Legislator Lopez offer

the following:

WHEREAS, heroin and opioid abuse have become an alarming problem

across the nation, including within communities across Ulster County; and

WHEREAS, in 2013, there were 89,269 admissions for heroin and

prescription opioid abuse treatment in New York State alone, an increase from

63,793 in 2004. During this same time period, New Yorkers ages 18 to 24 had the

largest increase in such admissions; and

WHEREAS, nationally, nearly half a million people were reportedly abusing

heroin or suffering from heroin dependence in 2012; and

WHEREAS, heroin abuse is a public health crisis in the State of New York,

and in Ulster County which represents a frightening share of heroin victims; and

WHEREAS, heroin is a highly addictive narcotic, with users representing a

variety of ages, races and other backgrounds. Heroin and opioid addiction impacts

families in every corner of Ulster County; and

WHEREAS, fatal overdose, the contraction of Hepatitis C and/or HIV, and

addiction and dependence are among the negative side effects that can result from

heroin use; and

WHEREAS, in June 2014, Governor Cuomo signed into law a legislative

package to combat this epidemic, which includes expansion of opioid overdose

training and increased availability to naloxone, a medication which reverses an

opioid overdose; and

WHEREAS, there is a need to equip and train law enforcement, EMS and the

health community with the tools they need to save lives, and to ensure the proper use

of naloxone; and

WHEREAS, Ulster County desires to supply more information about warning

signs of heroin and opioid abuse and misuse; now, therefore be it 

- Page 2 -

Resolution No. 371 October 21, 2014

Establishing the Ulster County Coalition Against Narcotics

RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Coalition Against Narcotics is hereby

created to study ways in which to identify how individuals can be helped, identify

other ways to prevent abuse, and identify ways in which to protect the public from

opiate drug abuse in Ulster County; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the Coalition shall consist of 15 members who shall be

appointed by the Chairman of the Legislature; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the Coalition members should include elected officials, law

enforcement officials, members of the District Attorney’s office, members of the

mental health community, school officials, members of local fire departments, EMS,

medical staff, members of the drug abuse treatment community, concerned members

of the general public, and any other organization with knowledge of opiate abuse;

and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Coalition Against Narcotics shall submit

a written report of its findings and recommendations to the County Legislature no

later than six months after its first meeting for consideration, review, and appropriate

action, if necessary; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the members of the Ulster County Coalition Against

Narcotics shall serve without compensation other than for actual and necessary

expenses with appropriations made therefore, unless other provided by resolution of

the County Legislature, pursuant to Section C-16 of the Ulster County Charter and

Section A2-11 of the Administrative Code,

and move its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES: 23 NOES: 0

Passed Committee: Public Health and Social Services on October 6, 2014

Passed Committee: Law Enforcement and Public Safety on October 6, 2014

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE 

- Page 3 -

Resolution No. 371 October 21, 2014

Establishing the Ulster County Coalition Against Narcotics

STATE OF NEW YORK

 ss:

COUNTY OF ULSTER

This is to certify that I, the undersigned Clerk of the Legislature of the County of Ulster have compared the

foregoing resolution with the original resolution now on file in the office of said clerk, and which was adopted by said

Legislature on the 21st Day of October, 2014, and that the same is a true and correct transcript of said resolution and of the

whole thereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of the County of Ulster this 22nd Day of

October in the year Two Thousand and Fourteen.

|s| Victoria A. Fabella

Victoria A. Fabella, Clerk

Ulster County Legislature