For years, we’ve read the grim headlines: families shattered, communities hollowed out, lives lost to drugs far too soon. But now, for the first time in a while, we’re seeing signs of progress: fewer overdose emergencies, more lives saved and a nearly 32% statewide drop in drug-related deaths compared with last year. That progress is the result of thoughtful steps such as expanded harm reduction tools, including greater naloxone availability, drug adulterant testing, medication-assisted treatment and proactive outreach.
It’s proof that progress is possible. But it’s also proof of something else: When we treat the opioid crisis like the public health emergency it still is, we save lives.
Encouraging as the data may be, New York still trails neighboring states like New Jersey and Connecticut, which have seen even sharper declines. And the progress we do see is not reaching everyone. For Black New Yorkers, the overdose death rate has stayed the same. For Latino New Yorkers, it has gotten worse. The crisis may be easing in some ZIP codes — but in too many communities, it’s not declining. It’s deepening.
As a pharmacist, I know we already have one of the most effective tools available: buprenorphine. This FDA-approved medication can cut the risk of a fatal overdose by more than 50%, help patients manage withdrawal and keep them engaged in treatment. The science is clear — buprenorphine works, and making it more accessible must be a top priority.
Now we have an even more powerful way to deliver it: long-acting injectable (LAI) buprenorphine. LAIs aren’t new — they’re transforming care for many chronic conditions. People with schizophrenia, for example, can now receive monthly or quarterly shots instead of daily pills. The most well-known examples today are GLP-1-based drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro; while different in purpose, they’re helping millions manage diabetes and weight with a once-weekly injection instead of multiple daily medications.
The same concept applies to opioid use disorder. One monthly injection of buprenorphine can prevent withdrawal, reduce cravings and provide lasting protection against overdose — without the daily burden of remembering a pill or film.
LAIs are already used extensively in our corrections system. They carry all the same patient benefits, but they also reduce demands on staff, eliminate the risk of diversion and contraband, and make treatment safer and more efficient. These are the kinds of practical, evidence-based solutions we should be expanding.
One of the moments of greatest risk comes immediately after someone leaves incarceration. Without support, too many people fall back into the cycle of addiction, often with deadly consequences. We know the solutions — and we must act.
First, the federal government should approve New York state’s pending Medicaid 1115 waiver, which would allow people to begin receiving Medicaid-covered care before leaving jail or prison — including medication-assisted treatment like long-acting injectable buprenorphine, 30 days of medication upon release and case management. At least 19 other states have already implemented this with success.
Second, the Assembly should pass S.614 — the Transitional Reentry Health Act, already passed in the Senate. This stopgap measure would give people presumptive Medicaid eligibility for at least 60 days post-release, so they aren’t left without coverage while the waiver process plays out.
If we fully embrace proven tools like buprenorphine and its long-acting injectable form — we can turn this year’s progress into a lasting decline in overdoses, where fewer families grieve, more people get the treatment they need and our communities grow stronger.
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