Press Releases

Binghamton, NY – With New York’s 19th Congressional District now the epicenter of the state’s opioid epidemic, U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro (NY-19) today urged Governor Kathy Hochul to approve the statewide use of Opvee, an FDA-approved and federally insured reversal agent proven to quickly counter painkillers, fentanyl, and heroin overdoses. In Broome County, Sheriff Fred Akshar has already successfully deployed the use of Opvee through the ‘Fentanyl Fighter’ pilot program, which trains deputies and corrections officers to administer this lifesaving medication alongside Naloxone, also known as Narcan.  Click here to watch a Broome County Sheriff Deputy successfully save the life of a suspected overdose victim with the deployment of Opvee.  

In New York, the state has only approved the use of one opioid reversal agent, Naloxone, while thirty-four states across the country have authorized the use of all FDA approved opioid reversal agents. By authorizing Opvee, which is believed to be a stronger reversal agent, some of these states have seen a decrease in overdoses of up to 15 percent.

In a letter to Governor Hochul, Rep. Molinaro urged her to examine the progress other states are making with Opvee and to approve it for statewide use.

Rep. Molinaro wrote, "New York continues to lag behind the nation in the availability of opioid reversal medications. With limited tools utilized to prevent opioid overdoses, Upstate New Yorkers remain at the epicenter of this crisis. Limiting the state's use of reversal agents to only naloxone is counterproductive to tackling a crisis that has worsened with the spread of lethal fentanyl."

Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar said, “Opvee is working exactly as we had anticipated, successfully restoring normal breathing and bringing unresponsive victims back when Narcan doesn’t seem to be enough. The Broome County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to saving lives whenever possible in our community, and this new tool is making that job easier when every minute counts. It’s important to have as many FDA-approved tools available as we can to fight these synthetic killers, and we appreciate Congressman Molinaro’s efforts to bring more tools to the table.”

The full text of Rep. Molinaro's letter can be found below:

Dear Governor Hochul,

As you know, New York continues to lag behind the nation in the availability of opioid reversal medications. With limited tools utilized to prevent opioid overdoses, Upstate New Yorkers, particularly those within the 19th Congressional District, remain at the epicenter of this crisis. Opvee, an FDA-approved and federally insured reversal agent, has proven to be effective and safe in quickly countering overdoses of prescription painkillers, fentanyl, and heroin. I urge you to approve Opvee for use in New York State and expand the state’s toolkit of overdose reversal agents to save more lives amid this public health emergency. 

Limiting the state’s use of reversal agents to only naloxone is counterproductive to tackling a crisis that has worsened with the spread of lethal fentanyl. Thirty-four states across the country have authorized the use of all FDA-approved opioid overdose reversal agents to be distributed and used by first responders. According to Friends of Recovery New York, Nebraska, Kansas, Maine, and Indiana saw an estimated 15 percent decrease in overdoses in 2023, among the largest decreases in the nation. All four states have permitted the use of all forms and dosages of FDA-approved reversal agents. Clearly, a robust and expansive toolkit of safe and effective reversal agents saves lives. 

Experiencing among the highest opioid overdose rates in the state, Broome County is leading the effort for expanding the state’s opioid crisis toolkit through its “Fentanyl Fighter” pilot program. The pilot program allows the county’s deputies and correctional officers to carry Opvee, in addition to Naloxone, to save lives and prevent overdose deaths. Accompanied with proper training on the deployment of Opvee and accurate data collection to track success, this program offers lawmakers critical insight to the ways our state must adapt to the changing landscape of the opioid challenge. 

New Yorkers know the toll the opioid epidemic has taken on the lives of individuals and families. The state must act to expand the availability of FDA-approved overdose reversal agents to help address the rapidly advancing crisis. You promised to aggressively tackle the opioid epidemic and I urge you to authorize the use of Opvee and other FDA-approved reversal treatments to save lives. 

Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to your prompt response.