Politics & Government

Combating Long Island's Heroin Epidemic

Senator Craig Johnson teams up with Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg and District Attorney Kathleen Rice to create legislation to combat the recent heroin epidemic.

Senator Craig M. Johnson (D-Port Washington) and Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg (D-Long Beach) recently joined Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice to announce new legislation to help combat the heroin epidemic on Long Island. The bill would hold drug dealers accountable for the deaths and destruction that they cause.

"This is a bill that could be seen as a tough on crime measure," Johnson said, "but it's a smart on crime measure."

The legislation (S.6418/A.9522), which was drafted in consultation with District Attorney Rice's office, will toughen existing laws to make it so a person who sells a controlled substance that causes a death could be charged with manslaughter. 

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"Because of the hard work of Assemblyman Weisenberg, who has a proven record of getting results in the assembly, and the hard work of District Attorney Rice and her staff, who gave us the practical knowledge about what is needed to fight this epidemic, we were able to craft legislation that is tough on crime as well as smart on crime," Johnson said.

Under current law, a dealer cannot be charged in relation to a heroin user's death, unless the dealer is physically involved in the injection of the drug. Under the proposed legislation, the statute for manslaughter in the second degree would be amended to include "anyone age 18 and older, and with a prior drug conviction, who knowingly sells a controlled substance to another person that is consumed by such person or another person and such controlled substance contributes to the death of such person or other person."

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"In making a profit, drug dealers regularly provide the poison that leads to the death of another," Weisenberg said. "People who demonstrate such disregard for humanity should be brought to swift justice and held responsible for their actions. We currently hold bartenders accountable for continuing to serve alcohol to patrons who are overly intoxicated. As it stands now, drug dealers are given preferential treatment in this regard simply because their product is illegal. This is unacceptable and I am pleased to join with Senator Johnson in changing our laws."

The increased penalty, a C felony, is in direct response to the rise of heroin use, and heroin-related deaths, on Long Island — particularly among youths and young adults, Senator Johnson said.

"Those who choose to sell death in our communities must be held accountable," Johnson said. "We are in a crisis that is literally gripping Long Island's future and I believe this legislation is an important part of comprehensive strategy to stem this disturbing trend."

Arrests on heroin-related charges rose 91 percent between 2005 and 2008 in Nassau County, while Suffolk County saw a 126 percent increase during that same time period. These increases come amid a flood of heroin that is stronger, cheaper, and easier for young adults and teens to obtain.

"Over the past two years, we have stepped up enforcement, gone into the community to educate teenagers and parents, and shined a light on a problem that has reached epidemic proportions on Long Island," Rice said. "Now, with support from legislators facing similar battles in communities across the state, we stand together poised to target the dealers killing our kids. We have got to change this law and we have to do it fast. Across the state, our children are dying and Albany needs to give us prosecutors the tools to go after their killers."

The Johnson/Weisenberg legislation still has to pass the Senate Codes Committee, which deals with law enforcement and criminal justice related legislation, before it is eligible for a vote in front of the entire New York State Senate.

"We're hopeful," Johnson said. "We're going to fight hard to make sure this gets to floor this year."


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