Hauppauge, NY – Seeking to break the grip of heroin addiction in teenagers and young adults, Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy unveiled plans for a Medication-Assisted Therapy approach to be used at county health centers – combining the prescription medication Suboxone with outpatient counseling and support.

Levy has filed a resolution, which is eligible for a vote before the Health and Human Services Committee this afternoon, to allocate $350,000 for the landmark initiative. If approved by committee, the resolution would be eligible for a vote before the full legislature on March 2.

“Research shows that almost nine of ten individuals will relapse after just a single stay in a detoxification center,” said Levy. “One of the reasons for this is that inpatient detoxification typically lasts 3-5 days, while the severe withdrawal conditions can last 7-10 days.” Levy noted that if a patient leaves a detoxification center while still suffering discomfort from withdrawal, there is likelihood they will resume drug use.

Suboxone has been shown to be successful in treating adolescents with a shorter history of heroin or opiate addiction, in that the medication aggressively blocks the high that is normally obtained through use of heroin. It also tempers the craving within the user.

The Suboxone program will be supported by new staff – two drug counselors and a registered nurse.

Levy noted that for instances where longer term care is needed for acute addictions, the county will continue to work with licensed inpatient and outpatient providers.

The Medication-Assisted Therapy program is just one component of Levy’s three-pronged approach in combating the use of heroin among teens and young adults.

“Along with treatment and support, we are providing education to our youth – and to our parents – and backing up those efforts with intensive law enforcement,” said Levy.

Included in the educational component is:

• A special heroin curriculum in the Police Smart program presented at local schools
• A resource guide for parents to spot signs of drug addiction, with a listing of the wide range of support services available
• A series of HELP forums throughout the county, the first of which is scheduled for April 20 at the East IslipHigh School

Last fall, Levy and Police Commissioner Richard Dormer established a centralized Heroin Special Unit within the Narcotics Division, to concentrate on heroin distribution networks. In the first four weeks of 2010, the unit made more than 60 undercover buys and arrested more than 100 individuals – a 120 percent increase to the same period in 2009.

The resolution utilizes approximately $850,000 in savings realized from consolidating the Central Islip health center into operations at Brentwood also allocates:

• $275,000 towards obstetrics services at Peconic Bay Medical Center;
• $150,000 to implement the recommendations of the health center financial review committee;
• $75,000 towards the county’s Electronic Medical Records implementation.

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