Suffolk Reporter

Assemblyman Keith P. Brown (R,C-Northport) joined a bipartisan press conference yesterday, led by Assemblyman Phil Steck (D-Colonie) and Sen. Peter Harckham (D,WF). The event was also attended by other Senate and Assembly Members, including Sen. Jake Ashby (R), Assemblyman Scott Bendett (R,C-Sand Lake), Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C-Medford), and Assemblyman Alec Brook-Krasny (R,C-Coney Island), along with law enforcement officials. The purpose of the conference was to advocate for bill A.8075-C/S.8991, which seeks to make a wider variety of fentanyl/opioid reversal agents available in the event of an overdose emergency.

“The fentanyl/opioid epidemic in New York state is escalating quickly, claiming more and more innocent lives each year,” said Brown. “In the event of an overdose emergency, Narcan and other federal Food and Drug Administration-approved fentanyl/opioid reversal agents must be readily available to the public so family, friends or Good Samaritans can intervene."

Brown, who serves as the Ranking Minority on the Assembly Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Committee and has personally lost family and friends to this epidemic, expressed his commitment to fighting back for the sake of his children and others throughout the state.

“We must support this proposal and others like it; if an individual is experiencing an overdose emergency, it does not have to end in death," he said. "It’s time we set aside any fears or trepidations we might have when it comes to Narcan and other reversal agents. While some people claim to feel sick after being given a dose of Narcan, the temporary side effects that could result from the use of this life-saving measure are worth it."

“If it means one more innocent life is saved, that is enough,” concluded Brown.