Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20) will host a community forum on solutions to the opioid epidemic next Thursday, June 2 in Albany with the Director of National Drug Control Policy, Michael Botticelli. The event will take place at 2:45 p.m. on Thursday, June 2 at the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

In January, Tonko was joined by a bipartisan coalition of New York Members of Congress in asking ONDCP Director Michael Botticelli to attend a forum in Upstate New York. Last month, Tonko toured the facilities at St. Peter’s Addiction Recovery Center (SPARC) in Cohoes to receive an update on the needs and challenges of recovery centers in the Capital Region.

This month, legislation authored by Tonko that would expand opioid treatment capacity for community caregivers passed the U.S. House of Representatives, widening the availability of the highest quality care for those seeking treatment. Tonko is the vice co-chair of the Congressional Addiction, Treatment and Recovery Caucus.

“In January, I joined my colleagues in requesting Director Botticelli to hold an Upstate New York hearing on the challenges communities like ours face in the battle against opioid abuse, and I’m looking forward to this important forum with Director Botticelli in Albany . Substance use disorder is something that touches all of our lives at some point, whether personally or through family and friends, and it's time to rethink our approach to providing assistance to those struggling through some of the most challenging times imaginable. Those in the recovery community are truly heroes. Bearing witness to the success stories of those who battle substance use -- as well as their closest friends and family that stand alongside them in their fight -- drives me to push for policies that will expand the opportunity to recover to everyone,” said Tonko.

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