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NYS OASAS announces name change from Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services to Office of Addiction Services and Supports

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Tue, Oct 29th 2019 04:20 pm

New name will coincide with launch of OASAS redesigned website offering improved user experience and easier access to addiction information

NYS OASAS today announced a name change from the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services to the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS), which, along with other notable changes, will address the replacement of stigmatizing language in the system of addiction care in New York. The name change is effective immediately.

The new name also coincides with the launch of a new OASAS website. The redesigned website will ensure information and resources related to addiction prevention, treatment and recovery are more easily accessible to the public. The address of the website remains at https://oasas.ny.gov/.

“I have been proud to spearhead our aggressive efforts to combat the opioid epidemic in partnership with OASAS as co-chair of the NYS Heroin and Opioid Task Force,” Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “The renaming of OASAS to the Office of Addiction Services and Supports is part of our ongoing efforts to reduce the stigma of addiction and better highlight the services and support offered to individuals and families across the state. We want to make sure we are continuing to raise awareness and are committed to advancing investments in treatment and recovery centers to address the crisis and help save lives.”

“Addiction services have changed over the years, and we need to continue to adapt to these changes,” OASAS Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez said. “This is a major step towards aligning state law with our mission, with a new name that is much more reflective of the recovery-centered goals of our agency. In addition, our new state-of-the-art website will help people in need better access information and services related to addiction. Through these steps we are helping to ensure that New York state continues to lead the nation in providing a recovery-friendly environment for those affected by this disease.”

In addition to updating the name of the agency, other language changes include changing terms such as “alcoholism,” “alcoholic,” “alcoholic beverage,” “recovered alcoholic,” “alcohol abuse,” variations on the use of “substance” or “chemical dependence,” and gambling disorder as an “impulse control disorder.”

The OASAS website has also been redesigned to meet the specific needs of everyday New Yorkers and the OASAS provider population. The new website replaces both Talk2Prevent.ny.gov and CombatAddiction.ny.gov to create a one-stop-shop for help and information related to addiction, prevention, treatment and recovery services. The new website addresses the needs of both providers, and the general public, is easier to navigate, mobile responsive, and fully accessible.

New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help 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. Available addiction treatment including crisis/detox, inpatient, community residence, or outpatient care can be found using the OASAS treatment availability dashboard at FindAddictionTreatment.ny.gov or through the NYS OASAS website.

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