Rockland County families rally to call for opioid settlement to be used to fight addiction

Families across New York were rallying Tuesday over funds to battle addiction, with several demonstrations being held in Rockland County.

News 12 Staff

May 4, 2021, 7:09 PM

Updated 1,320 days ago

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Families across New York were rallying Tuesday over funds to battle addiction, with several demonstrations being held in Rockland County.
News 12 is told the protests are meant to put pressure on state lawmakers to ensure a recent opioid settlement is spent responsibly.
The state is receiving more than $32 million from a nationwide settlement with Purdue Pharma over the opioid crisis.
Several Rockland families want to make sure the funds reach the local level to fight addiction.
Nanuet resident Valerie Moldow knows how valuable funding is to fight the opioid crisis; her daughter fought and won a battle against opioids. She's celebrating seven years clean, along with a new son.
"These funds are needed for recovery services that will help our children and adolescents thrive and get into adulthood on a clear recovery path,” says Moldow. “As parents alone, we cannot help our children."
According to County Executive Ed Day, officials are watching closely.
“We would love to see a committee put together to make sure funds from big pharma go where it needs to go,” says Day.
Advocates tell News 12 they would appreciate seeing funding go toward a new crisis center, along with more support services for those in recovery, and their families.
"There's hope in recovery. We were able to feel that and live through that and luckily our daughter is alive and gave us our first grandbaby,” says Moldow.
State officials say $11 million of the settlement will be put toward medication-assisted treatment in state prisons. The remaining balance will support ongoing prevention and treatment efforts throughout the state.