Invest in a wide range of harm reduction and act quickly. Those were a few themes repeated during Monday’s meeting of the Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board.

Multiple members of the board, as well as several members of the public, urged the three state agencies responsible for spending opioid settlement money to streamline the “request for proposals” (RFP) process, and to take a much more progressive view of harm reduction – one that goes beyond the distribution of naloxone.

The three New York state agencies involved are the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS), the Office of Mental Health (OMH) and the Department of Health (DOH).

The meeting also featured presentations by Hudson Valley area county community services and mental health commissioners about their counties’ opioid prevention initiatives. The county presentations were well received, but there were criticisms for OASAS, DOH and OMH.

“Nalaxone is so yesterday,” said Anne Constantino, the president & CEO of Horizon Health Services, of one of the more common types of harm reduction. “It’s assumed that you’ll be distributing it. The RFPs don’t allow for harm reduction to be widely interpreted. We have an opportunity with all this money to stop being so literal, and elevate the system.”

Many on the board have voiced disappointment the state isn’t spending settlement money to support safe injection sites (also known as overdose prevention centers), including the two currently operating in New York City. Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office rejected a proposal from the board to support the programs, saying that they violate various state and federal substance abuse laws.

But OASAS Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham defended her department’s approach.

“Naloxone is certainly not the only thing that’s happening as far as harm reduction,” she said. Cunningham pointed out there are hundreds of harm reduction programs that are being funded by the state of New York, some through opioid settlement funds, but not all.

Some board members were also critical of the procurement process, which can be onerous.

“Would an actual point person for the opioid settlement funds streamline the process? Do you have someone like that?” asked Ashley Livingston, a board member, activist and recovering addict.

OASAS Associate Commissioner of Data Management, Research and Planning Activity Connie Burke responded simply, “Here I am.”

Burke and other state officials reminded board members that the state’s procurement process could be difficult to navigate for small niche organizations, but that they have an option to pair with larger organizations that have worked with the state in the past.

State officials also walked members of the board through the procurement process, which starts with being registered with the state of New York and winds its way through the office of the state comptroller.

The activists on the board were not appeased.

“By the time you get to subjects that are going to keep people in recovery, there is going to be a lot of death going on. When are you going to get to issues like housing, transportation…?” observed Avi Israel, head of Save the Michaels of the World.

“We are working on the priorities that the board voted on and the percentages that the board voted on, and the recommendations that this be a competitive process. If the board wants to change those recommendations, the board can do so,” stated Cunningham.

According to Robert Kent, the former general counsel for both OASAS and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, there are steps the state can take to distribute settlement funds faster, but it may require an overhaul in how Medicaid and OASAS state aid are distributed. He joined Capital Tonight to discuss his ideas.

For example, Kent, who is now president of Kent Strategic Advisors, wrote in a recent column in the Albany Times Union, that the state should consider creating an Office of Drug Control Policy and appoint an individual in recovery to lead this office. He also recommended the state change the laws around Medicaid reimbursement to allow every OASAS, OMH and DOH-licensed program to provide integrated addiction, mental health and medical care.

More here.

Capital Tonight also spoke with activist Alexis Pleus, founder of www.TruthPharm.com, one of the smaller organizations in New York state that does community outreach, direct services, education and advocacy.

Pleus spoke passionately at the board meeting about the need for the state to act quickly.