LOWVILLE, N.Y. (WWNY) - North country congresswoman Elise Stefanik said Monday she’s committed to the fight against opioid addiction.
Stefanik was in Lowville to listen to the people trying to stem the tide of opioids, in a county which has seen a spike in overdoses.
“This is really an opportunity for me to hear from you today to see what we can do at the federal level,” Stefanik told the group.
What did she hear back?
Lewis County Sheriff Mike Carpinelli said “With heroin and things like that, they are mixing in fentanyl, and that of course is a great concern, fentanyl."
“Not only is it deadly to the people that use it, it’s also deadly to our police officers that are out there trying to take it off the streets,” he said.
Others said the drug treatment programs that are available aren’t long enough to help someone struggling with addiction.
Lewis County District Attorney Leanne Moser cited a 90 day program and said “that’s not a great length of time to really get you on to the path of recovery.”
Stefanik reiterated her support for federal spending to combat opioids: “So what I’ve tried to propose at the federal level, and we have invested in increasing the federal dollars, but letting the local communities figure out how to make those investments.”
The Lowville meeting is one of several Stefanik is holding on the opioid crisis.
Copyright 2019 WWNY. All rights reserved.