Officials in Orange County are
alerting the public to an increase in fentanyl-laced drugs that they say are
responsible for nearly all of the county’s drug-related deaths.
Officials issued an alert Thursday,
one day after what state police said was a tragic overdose in Westtown.
“I think it’s time we have a
conversation about the unintended consequences of bail reform here in the
Hudson Valley,” says Orange County District Attorney Dave Hoovler.
Hoovler says the problem is twofold
and caused by the rise in fentanyl-laced drugs and dealers on the street.
“Ninety-nine percent of all drug
crimes are not bail eligible,” said Hoovler. “It’s simply you get arrested and
you get an appearance ticket. You're in and you’re out. Your criminal history
doesn’t matter. Nothing matters.”
Hoovler says 20% of people arrested
statewide and in the county are reoffending while out on bail reform.
Ulster County put out an alert this
week after 39 overdoses and seven deaths so far, this month.
“No one in the Legislature seems to
care that people sell drugs and get released and are back out in the street,” says
Hoovler.
Authorities also are asking the
public to take a close look at a picture they released showing the difference
between a real oxycodone and a fake one.
They say it’s almost impossible to
tell the difference and that dangerous pills like these are being sold
locally.
“I had a family in my office just
two weeks ago that indicated, ‘I can’t believe my son is gone. He only took one
pill. He bought a pill off a friend and thought it was a legitimate Oxycontin
pill, and it wasn’t.’”
News 12 reached out to Gov. Kathy
Hochul’s office for comment but hasn’t heard back.
A representative for Gov.
Hochul’s office didn’t comment on concerns surrounding bail reform and
overdose rates but said, "Gov. Hochul is
deeply and personally committed to combating the opioid epidemic and
has invested millions of dollars in addiction services
[and] providers since taking office."