Connecticut Native Seeks to Brighten Up Community

New Haven, Connecticut brought longtime medical professional Doreen Abubakar positive memories as a child. Today, Abubakar makes the revitalization of one of its deprived neighborhoods her life’s work. The Newhallville area was a thriving working-class community before the 1980s. Like many working class areas across the country, an economic downturn left the area in direContinue reading “Connecticut Native Seeks to Brighten Up Community”

Assemblyman Gottfried Discusses New York Health Act

Since 1991, New York State Assemblyman Richard Gottfried (NY-75) has fought for single-payer healthcare in the state. This year, he may get his chance. In the wake of the pandemic, the New York Health Act–which Gottfried has co-sponsored with Assemblyman Gustavo Rivera– is gaining momentum in Albany. Assemblyman Gottfried credits this mainly to the supermajorityContinue reading “Assemblyman Gottfried Discusses New York Health Act”

Assembly members Woerner and McDonald Discuss Opioid Recovery Bill

Two New York State Assembly members have co-sponsored a bill that hopes to take the settlement funds from a 2019 lawsuit against Purdue Pharma and administer them to various agencies and programs tackling recovery and treatment for individuals suffering from substance abuse. The bill’s sponsor Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner (NY-113) shared how she got involved withContinue reading “Assembly members Woerner and McDonald Discuss Opioid Recovery Bill”

Northern Dutchess Community Coalition Talks Efforts During Pandemic

During National Prevention Month, Crissy Groenewegen of the Northern Dutchess Community Coalition shared how they have been spreading their mention of substance use prevention during a time of social isolation. “Most of the same programs that we were delivering live, we are now able to deliver virtually,” she said. The aim of the coalition, whichContinue reading “Northern Dutchess Community Coalition Talks Efforts During Pandemic”

Friends of Recovery Lobby for Treatment Funding

New York state politicians, Friends of Recovery advocates and individuals impacted by addiction stood outside the Capitol building in Albany to reform substance abuse by allowing the settlement funds from a 2019 lawsuit against Purdue Pharma, which are currently lying in the state’s general fund, to be administered to recovery and treatment programs. An estimatedContinue reading “Friends of Recovery Lobby for Treatment Funding”

Mom Shares Story on International Bereaved Mother’s Day

New City resident Caren Sommerstein Schwartz never thought she would become part of a club of mothers who have lost their children to addiction. Her son Reid died of a fentanyl overdose in 2015 at the age of 24. He had been battling addiction to fentanyl and heroin for eight years at that point. ThroughContinue reading “Mom Shares Story on International Bereaved Mother’s Day”

Experts Talk About Addiction During a Pandemic

A rise in drug overdoses has been eclipsed by the seesawing caseload of coronavirus cases during this once-in-a-century pandemic. Those who work with recovering addicts have been working overtime to provide care in a way they haven’t before. “We in the recovery community have noticed a huge intake and people seeking recovery, especially from heroinContinue reading “Experts Talk About Addiction During a Pandemic”