Gov. Kathy Hochul’s executive budget provides $1.25 billion for OASAS, the Office of Addiction Services and Supports, a net increase of $22.3 million from last year.

OASAS supports most of the state’s addiction service and treatment programs, so when it comes to bringing down the rate of opioid deaths in the state, the money is critical.

Capital Tonight was joined by attorney and drug policy expert Rob Kent, president of Kent Strategic Advisors, to discuss various ways the state can increase revenue to grow the workforce that help people with addiction issues. Kent knows a lot about this topic as the former general counsel with the Office of National Drug Control Policy as well as former general counsel for OASAS.