New York State Bar Association Launches Task Force Aimed at Alleviating Opioid Public Health Crisis
10.15.2024
The New York State Bar Association is appointing a blue-ribbon task force to recommend new laws and policies to address rampant opioid addiction in the state.
“The task force will be discussing how to prioritize treatment over punishment for those caught in the grip of the opioid crisis,” said Domenick Napoletano, president of the New York State Bar Association. “The goal is to ease the path to treatment and recovery for these vulnerable New Yorkers.”
Mary Beth Morrissey, chair of the association’s Health Law Section, will head the task force, which will include the district attorneys from Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Staten Island, eminent judges, prominent public defenders, leaders of addiction treatment programs and a special narcotics prosecutor for New York City.
“We will be studying legislative proposals and policy changes that will bring relief to suffering New Yorkers and their friends and families,” Morrissey said. “Our goal is to strengthen the state’s treatment programs by improving access to vital services.”
More than 5,000 New Yorkers died from opioid overdoses in 2021 and emergency medical technicians throughout the state reported 24,679 suspected opioid overdose encounters, according to a report produced by the New York State Department of Health last year. Suspected opioid overdose encounters rose to 25,221 in 2022, a 2.2% increase, according to the report.
“The number of people addicted to opioids in our state is heartbreaking,” Napoletano said. “We must stop these needless deaths and help those addicted lead healthy and productive lives.”
The members of the task force will be:
Alvin Bragg, district attorney, Manhattan.
Bridget Brennan, special narcotics prosecutor, New York City.
Jonathan D. Cohn, partner, Gerstenzang, Sills, Cohn & Gerstenzang.
Margaret Davino, partner, Fox Rothschild.
Judge Susan Eagan, Erie County Court judge, C.O.U.R.T.S Program.
Nigel Farinha, chief of gang prosecution, Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s Office.
Nancy Farrell, director of the New York State Defenders Association, Veterans Defense Program.
Eric Gonzalez, district attorney, Brooklyn.
Nicole Keary, deputy attorney general, Organized Crime Task Force, New York State Office of the Attorney General.
Giulia Marino, partner, Marino & Marino.
Michael McMahon, district attorney, Richmond County.
Leah Rene Nowotarski, Wyoming County public defender.
Timothy Pezzoli, deputy bureau chief of appeals and legislative counsel, Office of the District Attorney, Richmond County.
Lisa Smith, partner, Phillips Lytle.
Advisers to the task force will be:
Kamilah Archibald-Goins, resource coordinator III, Superior Criminal Courts, C.O.U.R.T.S. Program.
Ann-Marie Foster, president and chief executive officer, Phoenix House.
Mike Klein, president and chief executive officer, Urban Strategies.
Dr. Joshua Lynch, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine.
Ruth O’Sullivan, senior director of clinical practice, Center for Justice Innovation.
