10/18/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/18/2024 12:06
New York, NY - As New York, like the rest of the nation, continues to grapple with enormous rates of fatal overdose, new polling commissioned by the Legal Action Center (LAC) highlights a clear call from New Yorkers of all political affiliations, ages, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds for policies prioritizing treatment and care over punitive measures.
Key findings from the polling underscore the urgency of the situation:
The polling also revealed robust support for candidates that support specific policy proposals aimed at expanding access to treatment and harm reduction services and eliminating SUD-based discrimination and other barriers to care, including:
"Our polling demonstrates a strong, collective desire for health-first solutions to tackle substance use and save lives in New York," says Paul N. Samuels, LAC's Director and President.
Christine Khaikin, LAC Sr. Health Policy Attorney adds, "The message to leadership is clear: prioritize comprehensive, evidence-based services to meet the needs of families and communities in all parts of the state. New Yorkers want to be able to access and afford lifesaving care where they live. We look forward to working with policymakers to make this a reality and reduce the and other barriers to care that far too many New Yorkers continue to face."
To learn more, you can view this slide deck distilling the polling results and/or refer to this factsheet complete with minimal opposition figures as well as demographic breakdowns in support.
The online statewide survey of 1,000 respondents was conducted by Prime Group and fielded June 13 - 28, 2024. The credibility interval for the sample is +/- 3.1 percentage points.
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Media Contact:
Arianne Keegan
Director of Communications, Legal Action Center
[email protected]
(212) 243-1313
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