Categories: News, Schenectady County

SCHENECTADY — U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-NY, is coming to Schenectady Tuesday to advocate for more tools to fight the opiate epidemic, his office announced.

Schumer is to appear in the county’s legislative chamber at 1:30 p.m. to push for a new bipartisan bill to provide for more border agents, scientists, labs and training, his office said. The bill would also provide funding for new devices to detect and intercept fentanyl and other synthetic opiates.

Schumer is to appear with Schenectady County Sheriff Dominic Dagostino, District Attorney Robert Carney; New Choices Recovery Center Executive Director Stuart Rosenblatt; Schenectady County Legislature Chairman Anthony Jasenski and Mayor Gary McCarthy.

The appearance comes after the Schenectady County Legislature moved toward a possible lawsuit against some drug manufacturers over Medicaid and other costs incurred due to the opioid addiction epidemic.

The drugs have resulted in hospitalizations and an estimated 55 opiate-related overdose deaths in Schenectady County alone over a recent five-year period. The county has also incurred higher law enforcement costs, social services and jail expenses because of the trend.