CHENANGO COUNTY – Recently signed legislation to combat the effects of a growing heroin epidemic has received praise from several state legislators, including Senator Tom Libous (R-52nd Senate District).

On June 23, State Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the proposed legislation into law at Binghamton University in Vestal. The new law has a multi-pronged approach to combat the growing heroin epidemic across the state through education, treatment, and providing resources to law enforcement.

“This package will help save lives,” Libous said in a media release Sunday. “We need to take every necessary step to prevent the death and destruction of friends and families caused by heroin and opioids. Through education and providing services to addicts, we can start to reverse this dangerous epidemic.”

Under the new law, the antidote Naloxone (also known as Narcan) will be more readily available to schools, colleges and families through an opioid overdose prevention program.

“The local media reported that emergency responders have used overdose antidote Naloxone to save serveral lives in the last few months alone,” Libous added. “Expanding the availability means more lives saved.”