Suffolk Reporter

Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C-Medford) attended a press conference on the Million Dollar Staircase in the Capitol this morning to support the unveiling of a legislative package aimed at stemming the rising tide of overdose deaths in New York state. The press conference was led by the Suffolk County DA and advocates from across the state, who came together in support of the newly proposed legislation.

"Every life lost to the devastating grip of fentanyl is a stark reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive action. There is no time to wait when it comes to the lives of our family members, our friends and our community members who are struggling with addiction," expressed DeStefano during the event.

DeStefano further elaborated on his involvement in the fight against the fentanyl epidemic by stating, "I put forward my own legislation to address this issue, bill A.8130, which classifies xylazine as a controlled substance, making it a crime to sell or possess substances containing the drug."

Highlighting the urgency of the situation, DeStefano emphasized, "Unlike opioids, naloxone does not reverse xylazine’s effects, making this an even greater cause for concern."

The legislative package introduced at the press conference aims to address the significant challenges posed by the fentanyl epidemic, with DeStefano actively contributing to the efforts to combat the crisis.