BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Save the Michaels of the World has three locations in Western New York where it provides services for people struggling with addiction.

President Avi Israel said in the last two months, 277 people have entered treatment programs at the facilities and 20 have already come back.

"To me, it is very high. Those are just 20 people that came back," Israel said.

In some ways, he said it's good those people did ask for more treatment. Israel pointed to studies showing alarming relapse rates for opioid addicts, one as high as 91%.

"We don't know how many more are out there that don't have anything, a place to live, access to food, access to medication assisted treatment," he said.

Israel said there are currently no organized wraparound services in the state for people after they have had their initial treatment.

"Get them right into a reintegration program where they get their coping skills," he said. "Where they learn how to navigate a complicated society, where they'll learn how to navigate a complicated social services system."

The advocate admitted a program that would likely include new housing, transportation, dedicated staff and more is an expensive undertaking but he says it also costs a lot of money to continue to treat the same people over and over again with limited results. He also pointed out the state has been able to find money for similar and, in his opinion, also necessary programs, for people getting out of prison and migrants in New York.

"I'll get people over here, they'll tell me, Avi, why can't I get a hotel room? Why can't I get a telephone? Why can't I get food and shelter and everything else that some people from other countries get," he said.

Israel said some of the money should already be available in the form of unused opioid settlement funds. He plans to partner with former Office of Addiction Services and Support general counsel Rob Kent to draft legislation as lawmakers enter next year's budget season.

"I will be going to Albany. I will be asking to do something about that. It's very hard to pass, this kind of law. Not unless you get some people that will really push with you," he said.

New York's overdose deaths have declined this year since peaking at more than 6,700 in 2023 but Israel said there are still far too many.