[Applause] imagine for a moment that you’re caught
imagine for a moment that you’re caught
imagine for a moment that you’re caught in the middle of a storm your home has
in the middle of a storm your home has
in the middle of a storm your home has been destroyed and you’re with the
been destroyed and you’re with the
been destroyed and you’re with the person you love the most maybe that’s a
person you love the most maybe that’s a
person you love the most maybe that’s a child or a parent a sibling or your
child or a parent a sibling or your
child or a parent a sibling or your spouse it’s dark and it’s cold and the
spouse it’s dark and it’s cold and the
spouse it’s dark and it’s cold and the hurricane-force winds and the torrential
hurricane-force winds and the torrential
hurricane-force winds and the torrential downpours threatened to pull you apart
downpours threatened to pull you apart
downpours threatened to pull you apart as you cling together those rains and
as you cling together those rains and
as you cling together those rains and winds accelerate your being slowly but
winds accelerate your being slowly but
winds accelerate your being slowly but surely pulled apart you reach out for
surely pulled apart you reach out for
surely pulled apart you reach out for each other time and time again your
each other time and time again your
each other time and time again your hands touch only briefly your sobbing
hands touch only briefly your sobbing
hands touch only briefly your sobbing uncontrollably and before long they’re
uncontrollably and before long they’re
uncontrollably and before long they’re gone there are thousands of Long Island
gone there are thousands of Long Island
gone there are thousands of Long Island families or caught in a storm right now
there are 442 Long Islanders who lost
there are 442 Long Islanders who lost their lives in that storm in the last
their lives in that storm in the last
their lives in that storm in the last year and we’re going to lose even more
year and we’re going to lose even more
year and we’re going to lose even more in 2017
in 2017
in 2017 you see 442 Long Islanders and more than
you see 442 Long Islanders and more than
you see 442 Long Islanders and more than 52,000 other Americans last year lost
52,000 other Americans last year lost
52,000 other Americans last year lost their lives to drug overdoses all of
their lives to drug overdoses all of
their lives to drug overdoses all of those drug overdoses were directly
those drug overdoses were directly
those drug overdoses were directly connected to prescription pills
connected to prescription pills
connected to prescription pills painkillers like oxycontin and vicodin
painkillers like oxycontin and vicodin
painkillers like oxycontin and vicodin and percocet and fentanyl and heroin or
and percocet and fentanyl and heroin or
and percocet and fentanyl and heroin or some combination of those drugs but more
some combination of those drugs but more
some combination of those drugs but more importantly all of those fatalities were
importantly all of those fatalities were
importantly all of those fatalities were directly linked to a disease disease of
directly linked to a disease disease of
directly linked to a disease disease of addiction a brain disease that’s
addiction a brain disease that’s
addiction a brain disease that’s preventable that’s treatable and for
preventable that’s treatable and for
preventable that’s treatable and for which death needn’t be the outcome yet
which death needn’t be the outcome yet
which death needn’t be the outcome yet when we think about the number 442
when we think about the number 442
when we think about the number 442 that’s more than one per day
that means that by this time tomorrow
that means that by this time tomorrow morning some Long Island family probably
morning some Long Island family probably
morning some Long Island family probably within a few miles of here
within a few miles of here
within a few miles of here well began making funeral plans for a
well began making funeral plans for a
well began making funeral plans for a loved one before breakfast addiction has
loved one before breakfast addiction has
loved one before breakfast addiction has hit Long Island hard like any other
hit Long Island hard like any other
hit Long Island hard like any other natural disaster it’s destroyed homes
natural disaster it’s destroyed homes
natural disaster it’s destroyed homes it’s upended communities it’s claimed
it’s upended communities it’s claimed
it’s upended communities it’s claimed lives Long Island wasn’t ready for this
lives Long Island wasn’t ready for this
lives Long Island wasn’t ready for this you know we mourned when David laugher
you know we mourned when David laugher
you know we mourned when David laugher burst into Haven drugs in Medford on
burst into Haven drugs in Medford on
burst into Haven drugs in Medford on Father’s Day in 2011 and mowed down four
Father’s Day in 2011 and mowed down four
Father’s Day in 2011 and mowed down four innocent people in his quest for
innocent people in his quest for
innocent people in his quest for prescription drugs we cheered when we
prescription drugs we cheered when we
prescription drugs we cheered when we saw a dozen doctors and healthcare
saw a dozen doctors and healthcare
saw a dozen doctors and healthcare practitioners arrested locally for
practitioners arrested locally for
practitioners arrested locally for running pill mills and writing fake
running pill mills and writing fake
running pill mills and writing fake prescriptions then we bristled a little
prescriptions then we bristled a little
prescriptions then we bristled a little bit when the Long Island Expressway
bit when the Long Island Expressway
bit when the Long Island Expressway became known nationwide as the heroin
became known nationwide as the heroin
became known nationwide as the heroin Highway but we failed to connect the
Highway but we failed to connect the
Highway but we failed to connect the dots we failed to sustain our attention
dots we failed to sustain our attention
dots we failed to sustain our attention we ignored the warning signs and the
we ignored the warning signs and the
we ignored the warning signs and the dire forecasts about the storm we
dire forecasts about the storm we
dire forecasts about the storm we ignored the dramatic increases in
ignored the dramatic increases in
ignored the dramatic increases in drug-related arrests the treatment
drug-related arrests the treatment
drug-related arrests the treatment admissions and the overdoses
admissions and the overdoses
admissions and the overdoses you see heroin doesn’t happen here it
you see heroin doesn’t happen here it
you see heroin doesn’t happen here it happens somewhere else
happens somewhere else
happens somewhere else to someone else when we think about the
to someone else when we think about the
to someone else when we think about the average heroin user it’s the chronically
average heroin user it’s the chronically
average heroin user it’s the chronically homeless guy stumbling around the Lower
homeless guy stumbling around the Lower
homeless guy stumbling around the Lower East Side with a needle in his arm it’s
East Side with a needle in his arm it’s
East Side with a needle in his arm it’s not the perky cheerleader from Garden
not the perky cheerleader from Garden
not the perky cheerleader from Garden City it’s not the honor student from
City it’s not the honor student from
City it’s not the honor student from Smith town it’s not the scholar athlete
Smith town it’s not the scholar athlete
Smith town it’s not the scholar athlete from East Hampton
it happens somewhere else to someone
it happens somewhere else to someone else and when it happened to our kids we
else and when it happened to our kids we
else and when it happened to our kids we chalked that up is lousy choices or poor
chalked that up is lousy choices or poor
chalked that up is lousy choices or poor parenting or lousy morals in doing so we
parenting or lousy morals in doing so we
parenting or lousy morals in doing so we gave heroin a ten year running headstart
gave heroin a ten year running headstart
gave heroin a ten year running headstart and now we’re trying to catch up you
and now we’re trying to catch up you
and now we’re trying to catch up you know this isn’t the first natural
know this isn’t the first natural
know this isn’t the first natural disaster that Long Island has faced in
disaster that Long Island has faced in
disaster that Long Island has faced in 2012 horrid Hurricane sandy swept in did
2012 horrid Hurricane sandy swept in did
2012 horrid Hurricane sandy swept in did a lot of damage and claimed 13 Long
a lot of damage and claimed 13 Long
a lot of damage and claimed 13 Long Island lives and in the week of that
Island lives and in the week of that
Island lives and in the week of that storm we did a post-mortem and said what
storm we did a post-mortem and said what
storm we did a post-mortem and said what went wrong how can we weren’t better
went wrong how can we weren’t better
went wrong how can we weren’t better prepared probably individually we all
prepared probably individually we all
prepared probably individually we all have a lot more flashlights and
have a lot more flashlights and
have a lot more flashlights and batteries in our houses now collectively
batteries in our houses now collectively
batteries in our houses now collectively here on Long Island we took steps to
here on Long Island we took steps to
here on Long Island we took steps to secure our shorelines to amp up our
secure our shorelines to amp up our
secure our shorelines to amp up our power grids to rebuild our
power grids to rebuild our
power grids to rebuild our infrastructure and make it stronger to
infrastructure and make it stronger to
infrastructure and make it stronger to make sure that we were better prepared
make sure that we were better prepared
make sure that we were better prepared for the next hundred year storm you know
for the next hundred year storm you know
for the next hundred year storm you know we need to do the same thing when it
we need to do the same thing when it
we need to do the same thing when it comes to opioids and heroin and
comes to opioids and heroin and
comes to opioids and heroin and addiction but here’s the thing unless we
addiction but here’s the thing unless we
addiction but here’s the thing unless we take those steps it’s not going to stop
take those steps it’s not going to stop
take those steps it’s not going to stop it’s not like a tropical storm that’ll
it’s not like a tropical storm that’ll
it’s not like a tropical storm that’ll just eventually blow out to sea unless
just eventually blow out to sea unless
just eventually blow out to sea unless we do something to stop it it will
we do something to stop it it will
we do something to stop it it will worsen it will continue and here’s the
worsen it will continue and here’s the
worsen it will continue and here’s the other thing there’s not just one big
other thing there’s not just one big
other thing there’s not just one big thing that we can do there’s no silver
thing that we can do there’s no silver
thing that we can do there’s no silver bullet that’ll make it all go away and
bullet that’ll make it all go away and
bullet that’ll make it all go away and make it better there are however a bunch
make it better there are however a bunch
make it better there are however a bunch of smaller things that we can do to
of smaller things that we can do to
of smaller things that we can do to begin to turn the tide let’s talk about
begin to turn the tide let’s talk about
begin to turn the tide let’s talk about a few we need to get serious about
a few we need to get serious about
a few we need to get serious about prevention we need to get schools to
prevention we need to get schools to
prevention we need to get schools to understand that hurting 500 kids into an
understand that hurting 500 kids into an
understand that hurting 500 kids into an auditorium for 45 minutes once a year in
auditorium for 45 minutes once a year in
auditorium for 45 minutes once a year in order to check a box isn’t good
order to check a box isn’t good
order to check a box isn’t good prevention evidence-based
prevention evidence-based
prevention evidence-based age-appropriate individualized sessions
age-appropriate individualized sessions
age-appropriate individualized sessions that are integrated into 180 days of the
that are integrated into 180 days of the
that are integrated into 180 days of the school year from the very first day of
school year from the very first day of
school year from the very first day of kindergarten until the last day of 12th
kindergarten until the last day of 12th
kindergarten until the last day of 12th grade will absolutely make a difference
grade will absolutely make a difference
grade will absolutely make a difference we’ve learned now that the DARE program
we’ve learned now that the DARE program
we’ve learned now that the DARE program didn’t work and scaring kids doesn’t
didn’t work and scaring kids doesn’t
didn’t work and scaring kids doesn’t work the potential consequences
work the potential consequences
work the potential consequences associated with drug and alcohol use are
associated with drug and alcohol use are
associated with drug and alcohol use are serious enough we don’t need to
serious enough we don’t need to
serious enough we don’t need to exaggerate them in order to get our kids
exaggerate them in order to get our kids
exaggerate them in order to get our kids attention and when we do they tune us
attention and when we do they tune us
attention and when we do they tune us out we’ve got to make sure that our
out we’ve got to make sure that our
out we’ve got to make sure that our messages are relevant with some kids we
messages are relevant with some kids we
messages are relevant with some kids we should be talking about how the use of
should be talking about how the use of
should be talking about how the use of alcohol and marijuana can be a gateway
alcohol and marijuana can be a gateway
alcohol and marijuana can be a gateway to other things but for kids who are
to other things but for kids who are
to other things but for kids who are already experimenting in smoking pot
already experimenting in smoking pot
already experimenting in smoking pot we’re not necessarily talking about
we’re not necessarily talking about
we’re not necessarily talking about marijuana is a gateway drug we should be
marijuana is a gateway drug we should be
marijuana is a gateway drug we should be talking about it as an exit drug and as
talking about it as an exit drug and as
talking about it as an exit drug and as we give kids straight up information in
we give kids straight up information in
we give kids straight up information in a way that’s honest and forthright let’s
a way that’s honest and forthright let’s
a way that’s honest and forthright let’s also understand that we’ve got to help
also understand that we’ve got to help
also understand that we’ve got to help them build some core competencies if we
them build some core competencies if we
them build some core competencies if we can help kids learn good communication
can help kids learn good communication
can help kids learn good communication skills good good decision-making skills
skills good good decision-making skills
skills good good decision-making skills good refusal strategies those are
good refusal strategies those are
good refusal strategies those are competencies that protect them from a
competencies that protect them from a
competencies that protect them from a whole bunch of things including drugs
whole bunch of things including drugs
whole bunch of things including drugs and alcohol but from a whole bunch of
and alcohol but from a whole bunch of
and alcohol but from a whole bunch of things as well let’s help kids talk
things as well let’s help kids talk
things as well let’s help kids talk about and manage the anxiety depression
about and manage the anxiety depression
about and manage the anxiety depression and stress that comes along with
and stress that comes along with
and stress that comes along with adolescence that comes along with
adolescence that comes along with
adolescence that comes along with high-stakes testing that comes along
high-stakes testing that comes along
high-stakes testing that comes along with over scheduled lives
let’s give the same factual straight-up
let’s give the same factual straight-up information to their parents no
information to their parents no
information to their parents no judgments
judgments
judgments show them the science and the data and
show them the science and the data and
show them the science and the data and then help them translate that
then help them translate that
then help them translate that information to their kids in a way
information to their kids in a way
information to their kids in a way that’s sustained it’s loving and it’s
that’s sustained it’s loving and it’s
that’s sustained it’s loving and it’s designed to stick
designed to stick
designed to stick let’s help those same parents come to
let’s help those same parents come to
let’s help those same parents come to terms with their own substance use past
terms with their own substance use past
terms with their own substance use past or present and let’s help them to
or present and let’s help them to
or present and let’s help them to understand that the drugs of today and
understand that the drugs of today and
understand that the drugs of today and the potential consequences associated
the potential consequences associated
the potential consequences associated with their use are dramatically
with their use are dramatically
with their use are dramatically different than they were perhaps thirty
different than they were perhaps thirty
different than they were perhaps thirty years ago let’s make sure that all kids
years ago let’s make sure that all kids
years ago let’s make sure that all kids and adults are screened for mental
and adults are screened for mental
and adults are screened for mental health disorders and substance use
health disorders and substance use
health disorders and substance use disorders as often as possible let’s
disorders as often as possible let’s
disorders as often as possible let’s make sure that every healthcare
make sure that every healthcare
make sure that every healthcare practitioner is talking to every patient
practitioner is talking to every patient
practitioner is talking to every patient during every visit about their emotional
during every visit about their emotional
during every visit about their emotional well-being about how much they’re
well-being about how much they’re
well-being about how much they’re drinking about their use of tobacco
drinking about their use of tobacco
drinking about their use of tobacco products about their use of other drugs
and about their use their non-medical
and about their use their non-medical use of prescriptions for those that need
use of prescriptions for those that need
use of prescriptions for those that need addiction treatment let’s make it
addiction treatment let’s make it
addiction treatment let’s make it available on demand there shouldn’t be
available on demand there shouldn’t be
available on demand there shouldn’t be waiting lists
waiting lists
waiting lists I shouldn’t have to show up in an
I shouldn’t have to show up in an
I shouldn’t have to show up in an emergency room at 4 a.m. to get first
emergency room at 4 a.m. to get first
emergency room at 4 a.m. to get first online in order to get a treatment bed I
online in order to get a treatment bed I
online in order to get a treatment bed I shouldn’t be sitting in my home
shouldn’t be sitting in my home
shouldn’t be sitting in my home frantically dialing substandard
frantically dialing substandard
frantically dialing substandard treatment facilities in Florida that
treatment facilities in Florida that
treatment facilities in Florida that advertise on late-night TV addiction
advertise on late-night TV addiction
advertise on late-night TV addiction treatment should be evidence-based it
treatment should be evidence-based it
treatment should be evidence-based it should be culturally competent it should
should be culturally competent it should
should be culturally competent it should be individualized to the person and
be individualized to the person and
be individualized to the person and their needs and yeah again it ought to
their needs and yeah again it ought to
their needs and yeah again it ought to be available on demand it shouldn’t be
be available on demand it shouldn’t be
be available on demand it shouldn’t be difficult to find a treatment facility
difficult to find a treatment facility
difficult to find a treatment facility that specializes in co-occurring
that specializes in co-occurring
that specializes in co-occurring disorders we are a substance use problem
disorders we are a substance use problem
disorders we are a substance use problem runs concurrent with a mental health
runs concurrent with a mental health
runs concurrent with a mental health issue let’s make it easy let’s assume
issue let’s make it easy let’s assume
issue let’s make it easy let’s assume that everyone has a co-occurring
that everyone has a co-occurring
that everyone has a co-occurring disorder because they probably do let’s
disorder because they probably do let’s
disorder because they probably do let’s prevent insurance companies from
prevent insurance companies from
prevent insurance companies from requiring that folks fail first at
requiring that folks fail first at
requiring that folks fail first at outpatient treatment before they’ll pay
outpatient treatment before they’ll pay
outpatient treatment before they’ll pay for inpatient treatment when a line of
for inpatient treatment when a line of
for inpatient treatment when a line of healthcare professionals are telling
healthcare professionals are telling
healthcare professionals are telling that person you need to go inpatient
that person you need to go inpatient
that person you need to go inpatient you’ve been using 15 bags of heroin a
you’ve been using 15 bags of heroin a
you’ve been using 15 bags of heroin a day for two years you’re going to die if
day for two years you’re going to die if
day for two years you’re going to die if you don’t go insurance companies
you don’t go insurance companies
you don’t go insurance companies shouldn’t be allowed to say no and when
shouldn’t be allowed to say no and when
shouldn’t be allowed to say no and when a healthcare professional recommends 30
a healthcare professional recommends 30
a healthcare professional recommends 30 days worth of treatment they shouldn’t
days worth of treatment they shouldn’t
days worth of treatment they shouldn’t stop coverage on day 5 it shouldn’t be
stop coverage on day 5 it shouldn’t be
stop coverage on day 5 it shouldn’t be so hard to find treatment for parenting
so hard to find treatment for parenting
so hard to find treatment for parenting and pregnant moms it shouldn’t be so
and pregnant moms it shouldn’t be so
and pregnant moms it shouldn’t be so hard to find treatment for young women
hard to find treatment for young women
hard to find treatment for young women who are struggling with eating disorders
who are struggling with eating disorders
who are struggling with eating disorders and addiction it shouldn’t be so hard to
and addiction it shouldn’t be so hard to
and addiction it shouldn’t be so hard to find trauma-informed care because here’s
find trauma-informed care because here’s
find trauma-informed care because here’s a newsflash trauma is now the rule
a newsflash trauma is now the rule
a newsflash trauma is now the rule rather than the exception for a lot of
rather than the exception for a lot of
rather than the exception for a lot of the folks we’re dealing with
the bottom line here is until we make it
the bottom line here is until we make it easier to get treatment than it is to
easier to get treatment than it is to
easier to get treatment than it is to get heroin we’re not going to turn the
get heroin we’re not going to turn the
get heroin we’re not going to turn the tide you know there are multiple paths
tide you know there are multiple paths
tide you know there are multiple paths to recovery for some people it all
to recovery for some people it all
to recovery for some people it all starts in a church basement for others
starts in a church basement for others
starts in a church basement for others it starts in a wilderness program or a
it starts in a wilderness program or a
it starts in a wilderness program or a traditional treatment center
traditional treatment center
traditional treatment center some people use medication assisted
some people use medication assisted
some people use medication assisted treatment there are multiple paths and
treatment there are multiple paths and
treatment there are multiple paths and that’s a good thing all of them should
that’s a good thing all of them should
that’s a good thing all of them should be laser focused on addressing the
be laser focused on addressing the
be laser focused on addressing the biological the psychological and the
biological the psychological and the
biological the psychological and the spiritual components of addiction but if
spiritual components of addiction but if
spiritual components of addiction but if hard folks complain that some patients
hard folks complain that some patients
hard folks complain that some patients are on methadone for twenty years so
are on methadone for twenty years so
are on methadone for twenty years so what well the promise of a medication
what well the promise of a medication
what well the promise of a medication free life is a gift it’s not reality for
free life is a gift it’s not reality for
free life is a gift it’s not reality for everyone we don’t tell diabetics enough
everyone we don’t tell diabetics enough
everyone we don’t tell diabetics enough with the insulin stop using it as a
with the insulin stop using it as a
with the insulin stop using it as a crutch
crutch
crutch I’ve heard people suggest to me that if
I’ve heard people suggest to me that if
I’ve heard people suggest to me that if you use buprenorphine or suboxone to
you use buprenorphine or suboxone to
you use buprenorphine or suboxone to curb the cravings associated with
curb the cravings associated with
curb the cravings associated with addiction you’re simply trading one drug
addiction you’re simply trading one drug
addiction you’re simply trading one drug for another but if we truly in our
for another but if we truly in our
for another but if we truly in our hearts believe that addiction is a
hearts believe that addiction is a
hearts believe that addiction is a biologically based phenomenon rather
biologically based phenomenon rather
biologically based phenomenon rather than a failure of willpower then having
than a failure of willpower then having
than a failure of willpower then having a pharmaceutical intervention in our
a pharmaceutical intervention in our
a pharmaceutical intervention in our toolbox makes perfect sense here too
toolbox makes perfect sense here too
toolbox makes perfect sense here too when doctors treat folks who are at
when doctors treat folks who are at
when doctors treat folks who are at elevated risk for heart disease they
elevated risk for heart disease they
elevated risk for heart disease they don’t tell them to suck it up and spend
don’t tell them to suck it up and spend
don’t tell them to suck it up and spend more time on the treadmill they
more time on the treadmill they
more time on the treadmill they prescribe statins they recommend a
prescribe statins they recommend a
prescribe statins they recommend a healthy diet and they recommend a
healthy diet and they recommend a
healthy diet and they recommend a moderate exercise plan they use every
moderate exercise plan they use every
moderate exercise plan they use every tool available in that toolbox to get
tool available in that toolbox to get
tool available in that toolbox to get that person well and to keep them safe
that person well and to keep them safe
that person well and to keep them safe we ought to be doing the same here the
we ought to be doing the same here the
we ought to be doing the same here the carnage on Long Island would be even
carnage on Long Island would be even
carnage on Long Island would be even worse if it weren’t for a drug called
worse if it weren’t for a drug called
worse if it weren’t for a drug called naloxone otherwise known as narcan
naloxone otherwise known as narcan
naloxone otherwise known as narcan it’s an opioid reversal agent and police
it’s an opioid reversal agent and police
it’s an opioid reversal agent and police officers and EMTs and even lay people
officers and EMTs and even lay people
officers and EMTs and even lay people are using that drug to bring people back
are using that drug to bring people back
are using that drug to bring people back from the brink of death but as we
from the brink of death but as we
from the brink of death but as we resuscitate those folks we got to make
resuscitate those folks we got to make
resuscitate those folks we got to make sure that we’re linking them up to
sure that we’re linking them up to
sure that we’re linking them up to treatment we got to make sure that we’re
treatment we got to make sure that we’re
treatment we got to make sure that we’re helping and guiding the families who are
helping and guiding the families who are
helping and guiding the families who are affected by this and we’ve got to make
affected by this and we’ve got to make
affected by this and we’ve got to make sure that giving somebody the ability to
sure that giving somebody the ability to
sure that giving somebody the ability to breathe again it should be the least we
breathe again it should be the least we
breathe again it should be the least we can do but it shouldn’t be the best we
can do but it shouldn’t be the best we
can do but it shouldn’t be the best we could do you know creating a life is
could do you know creating a life is
could do you know creating a life is different than saving a life and as we
different than saving a life and as we
different than saving a life and as we help folks remove drugs and alcohol from
help folks remove drugs and alcohol from
help folks remove drugs and alcohol from their daily routines we have to help
their daily routines we have to help
their daily routines we have to help them add something back in we’ve got to
them add something back in we’ve got to
them add something back in we’ve got to give them the skills and the knowledge
give them the skills and the knowledge
give them the skills and the knowledge and the attitudes necessary to be
and the attitudes necessary to be
and the attitudes necessary to be successful for the rest of their lives
successful for the rest of their lives
successful for the rest of their lives treatment only lasts for a short
treatment only lasts for a short
treatment only lasts for a short I’m Recovery’s a likely lifelong
I’m Recovery’s a likely lifelong
I’m Recovery’s a likely lifelong proposition we’ve got to do more to
proposition we’ve got to do more to
proposition we’ve got to do more to support people in recovery as well as
support people in recovery as well as
support people in recovery as well as their families you know here on Long
their families you know here on Long
their families you know here on Long Island we recently opened a Recovery
Island we recently opened a Recovery
Island we recently opened a Recovery Center that’s great but we need 12 we’re
Center that’s great but we need 12 we’re
Center that’s great but we need 12 we’re having some really good and serious
having some really good and serious
having some really good and serious conversations about opening a recovery
conversations about opening a recovery
conversations about opening a recovery school on Long Island but we need it
school on Long Island but we need it
school on Long Island but we need it today I happen to believe that every
today I happen to believe that every
today I happen to believe that every school ought to be safe sober and
school ought to be safe sober and
school ought to be safe sober and conducive to a young person’s recovery
conducive to a young person’s recovery
conducive to a young person’s recovery they’re not and there’s a growing group
they’re not and there’s a growing group
they’re not and there’s a growing group of young people who could benefit from a
of young people who could benefit from a
of young people who could benefit from a setting where your recovery comes first
setting where your recovery comes first
setting where your recovery comes first social and emotional learning comes
social and emotional learning comes
social and emotional learning comes second and academics comes third that’s
second and academics comes third that’s
second and academics comes third that’s how we save a generation and while we’re
how we save a generation and while we’re
how we save a generation and while we’re talking about saving generations one of
talking about saving generations one of
talking about saving generations one of the greatest lessons we’ve learned out
the greatest lessons we’ve learned out
the greatest lessons we’ve learned out of this modern-day crisis is it using a
of this modern-day crisis is it using a
of this modern-day crisis is it using a criminal justice response to a public
criminal justice response to a public
criminal justice response to a public health problem that’s driven by a
health problem that’s driven by a
health problem that’s driven by a relentless brain disease is wasteful and
relentless brain disease is wasteful and
relentless brain disease is wasteful and counterproductive our jails and prisons
counterproductive our jails and prisons
counterproductive our jails and prisons are filled filled with folks who are
are filled filled with folks who are
are filled filled with folks who are struggling with untreated substance use
struggling with untreated substance use
struggling with untreated substance use disorders and mental health conditions
disorders and mental health conditions
disorders and mental health conditions with 2.3 million Americans incarcerated
our facilities are full it was okay
our facilities are full it was okay apparently to lock up an entire
apparently to lock up an entire
apparently to lock up an entire generation of young black men for drug
generation of young black men for drug
generation of young black men for drug offenses but heroin 2.0 is white
offenses but heroin 2.0 is white
offenses but heroin 2.0 is white middle-class and politically relevant
that’s why we’re suddenly talking about
that’s why we’re suddenly talking about alternatives to incarceration and
alternatives to incarceration and
alternatives to incarceration and expanding drug courts and street-level
expanding drug courts and street-level
expanding drug courts and street-level diversion before people ever get into
diversion before people ever get into
diversion before people ever get into the system that’s why we’re finally
the system that’s why we’re finally
the system that’s why we’re finally talking about some progressive solutions
talking about some progressive solutions
talking about some progressive solutions but let’s agree on this fairness
but let’s agree on this fairness
but let’s agree on this fairness dictates that everyone benefit equally
dictates that everyone benefit equally
dictates that everyone benefit equally from our newfound sanity you know when I
from our newfound sanity you know when I
from our newfound sanity you know when I started here this morning I told you
started here this morning I told you
started here this morning I told you about those 442 Long Islanders I wanted
about those 442 Long Islanders I wanted
about those 442 Long Islanders I wanted to get your attention I hope I did I
to get your attention I hope I did I
to get your attention I hope I did I didn’t tell you about the thousands of
didn’t tell you about the thousands of
didn’t tell you about the thousands of Long Islanders who are recovering one
Long Islanders who are recovering one
Long Islanders who are recovering one day at a time I didn’t tell you about
day at a time I didn’t tell you about
day at a time I didn’t tell you about the lives reclaimed the families
the lives reclaimed the families
the lives reclaimed the families reunited the momma got her son back this
reunited the momma got her son back this
reunited the momma got her son back this morning
I didn’t tell you those stories but
I didn’t tell you those stories but those stories are what create hope in
those stories are what create hope in
those stories are what create hope in the midst of so much devastation those
the midst of so much devastation those
the midst of so much devastation those stories are going to power us through
stories are going to power us through
stories are going to power us through this crisis and those stories help to
this crisis and those stories help to
this crisis and those stories help to eliminate the shame and stigma that not
eliminate the shame and stigma that not
eliminate the shame and stigma that not only surrounds addiction but fuels the
only surrounds addiction but fuels the
only surrounds addiction but fuels the disease it’s really easy to say that the
disease it’s really easy to say that the
disease it’s really easy to say that the devastation we’re experiencing today is
devastation we’re experiencing today is
devastation we’re experiencing today is unparalleled but that’s not true how
unparalleled but that’s not true how
unparalleled but that’s not true how many American lives have been lost to
many American lives have been lost to
many American lives have been lost to chronic alcoholism to impaired driving
to the heroin crisis of the 1980s and
to the heroin crisis of the 1980s and the result in hiv/aids epidemic
the result in hiv/aids epidemic
the result in hiv/aids epidemic how many futures have been lost to crack
how many futures have been lost to crack
how many futures have been lost to crack too many this is our chance to make
too many this is our chance to make
too many this is our chance to make things right this is our chance to
things right this is our chance to
things right this is our chance to become better prepared the next time
become better prepared the next time
become better prepared the next time around is the best time now
around is the best time now
around is the best time now no that was yesterday that was 10 years
no that was yesterday that was 10 years
no that was yesterday that was 10 years ago
ago
ago that was any time within the past
that was any time within the past
that was any time within the past century when we could have come up with
century when we could have come up with
century when we could have come up with a more creative comprehensive and
a more creative comprehensive and
a more creative comprehensive and compassionate approach to addiction but
compassionate approach to addiction but
compassionate approach to addiction but the second best time is right now it’s
the second best time is right now it’s
the second best time is right now it’s right now
we need to help families who have lost a
we need to help families who have lost a loved one rebuild their lives we need to
loved one rebuild their lives we need to
loved one rebuild their lives we need to strengthen and fortify our schools and
strengthen and fortify our schools and
strengthen and fortify our schools and our communities we need to shelter and
our communities we need to shelter and
our communities we need to shelter and support those who are struggling and
support those who are struggling and
support those who are struggling and most importantly we need to help those
most importantly we need to help those
most importantly we need to help those who have found a new way of living bask
who have found a new way of living bask
who have found a new way of living bask in the sunshine of their recovery thank
in the sunshine of their recovery thank
in the sunshine of their recovery thank you very much
you very much
you very much [Applause]
”
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