Nassau County DA Madeline Singas seeks to close 'treatment gap' for heroin addicts

FREEPORT, NY (WABC) -- Acting Nassau County DA Madeline Singas on Wednesday announced her office's commitment to close a deadly treatment gap for heroin addicts.

It is part of her three-pronged strategy against the local effects of a public health crisis affecting every part of the country.

"Heroin has stolen lives and infiltrated every corner of the United States," she said. "And unfortunately. Nassau County is no exception."

She says that her push for increased funding will ensure that no one in Nassau County will be discharged from an ER without having a place to go and get help.

Right now, heroin users in New York state who overdose are revived and released back into the community in a matter of hours. The user receives only recommendations to obtain treatment, since heroin and opiate withdrawal is not considered medically life-threatening. Processing the paperwork and getting into appropriate treatment can then take weeks.

The so-called treatment gap leaves many patients on their own during the most violent, painful and difficult throes of withdrawal, often leading to repeat use. Singas' new initiative looks to close that gap in Nassau County.

"These people are in crisis, these people need assistance, it's a very vulnerable time. They might be right back on the street again using," said Singas.

But instead people who overdose on heroin in Nassau County, if they want, can go straight from the emergency room to Maryhaven's New Hope Crisis Center in Freeport -- 24/7, free of charge.

"I lost my son three years ago, undoubtedly New Hope will save lives in that crucial time after an overdose," said Linda Ventura, whose son died of an overdose.

Crisis center workers will use vans to pick up patients at hospitals or agencies and bring them right to Maryhaven to undergo withdrawal treatment, counseling and to get them into a long term rehab program. The center can hold 30 patients at a time.

"This is a big step in being able to realize treatment on demand and connecting people with the help that they need," said Anthony Rizzuto, executive director of Families in Support of Treatment.

So where is the money coming from to do this? Singas has committed $585,000 from the county's criminal asset forfeiture funds to get the program started right now and to last for the next year. Long term funding is expected to come from a state Medicaid program.

"My office's funding will allow New Hope to hire medical and psychiatric staff who will be able to provide medications to those who need them," said Singas.

The average patient will stay 10 to 12 days.

The New Hope treatment facility will meet overdose patients in emergency rooms at any time of the day or night. They will then transport them to New Hope to be stabilized through their withdrawal and receive counseling until long-term treatment can begin. The program will run at no cost to the patient.

Currently, New Hope's staffing levels do not allow the facility to admit patients during the overnight periods.

No tax payer dollars will be used to fund the program, which will make New Hope one of the first such facilities with 24/7 intake coverage in New York state.

"I hope this initiative gives every family in Nassau County some peace of mind to know there is a free, safe place for their loved ones to go and get help," Singas said.