OASAS announces availability of 'lifesaving resources to address state's opioid crisis'

Overdose reversal medication and education, and fentanyl test strips now available through agency website

The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) on Friday announced new distribution plans for overdose reversal medication naloxone (known as Narcan) and fentanyl test strips.

A press release explained, “OASAS has just introduced a new, easy-to-use ordering mechanisms for all OASAS and Office of Mental Health (OMH) service providers.”

OASAS Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham said, “Expanding access to harm reduction services is a top priority for OASAS. By making these resources available, we are helping to ensure that we are reducing potential harms of substance use, and most importantly saving more lives.”

The press release stated, “Working with manufacturer Emergent, OASAS is making Narcan nasal spray available to all OASAS and OMH providers through a new direct ordering system on the OASAS website. This will allow providers to access critical overdose reversal medication so that it can be offered to patients, prospective patients, and/or their significant other(s).

“In addition, OASAS has partnered with NY MATTERS to ensure OASAS and OMH providers have a supply of fentanyl test strips in all of their programs and facilities. Potent fentanyl is increasingly being mixed with a wide range of other substances and is a leading cause for the continued high rates of fatal overdoses. Since it is common for an individual to be unaware of the presence of fentanyl in a substance they are taking, access to testing materials is critically important.”

These efforts are currently being supported by federal grant dollars, upon exhaustion of this funding source, this program will continue through allocation of opioid settlement funds. To access ordering information, providers can visit the OASAS harm reduction webpage. 

OMH Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “Increasing the availability of Narcan and fentanyl test strips will save lives. I urge all OMH licensed providers to take advantage of these resources and ensure that our clients , and those who support them, have access to these resources and know how to use them when needed. Working together with our partners at OASAS, Emergent and NY Matters we will help avoid needless tragedies.”

OASAS oversees one of the nation's largest substance use disorder systems of care with approximately 1,700 prevention, treatment, harm reduction and recovery programs serving over 731,000 individuals per year.

New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, seven-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (short code 467369). Available addiction treatment including crisis/detox, inpatient, residential or outpatient care can be found using the NYS OASAS treatment availability dashboard at FindAddictionTreatment.ny.gov or through the NYS OASAS website. 

If you, or a loved one, have experienced insurance obstacles related to treatment or need help filing an appeal for a denied claim, contact the CHAMP helpline by phone at 888-614-5400 or email at [email protected].