OASAS Expands Addiction Services After Statewide Tour

State health commissioner Chinazo Cunningham outlines new efforts to improve substance use treatment after gathering community feedback across New York.

Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Substance Abuse

Red-brick community health building beside a rural road with forested hills behind it under overcast daylight. — New York's Office of Addiction Services and Supports is expanding treatment access after collecting community feedback statewide, as overdose deaths fell 44%. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) collected feedback from communities around New York State about local substance abuse issues, and Commissioner Chinazo Cunningham announced efforts to improve addiction services. Overdose deaths in the state have decreased by 44%.

Why it matters

Communities asked for greater focus on the needs of younger residents, and the state is responding with expanded treatment access after decades of underinvestment in substance treatment infrastructure. Improved access to basic recovery needs such as housing and transportation was also requested.

The state reports a 44% decrease in overdose deaths and a 50% increase in methadone treatment access in Upstate New York and rural areas, with more than 130 methadone treatment locations statewide. The source does not give the baseline period for these comparisons or specify the timeframe for the overdose decline.

The players

Chinazo Cunningham

Commissioner of the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports, who led the statewide tour and announced the expanded addiction services.

Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS)

The New York State agency responsible for overseeing addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery services across the state.

The details

OASAS gathered input from local communities across New York State on substance abuse problems and used it to shape its response. The agency has expanded Medication-Assisted Treatment access to more locations, including rural areas, and the treatment is now available in all jails and prisons statewide.

Substance treatment infrastructure went without significant investment for decades before the current expansion efforts.

Health Landscape

The expansion of Medication-Assisted Treatment under New York's OASAS programs extends a state strategy of making methadone and related treatments more widely available. This story marks further expansion into rural areas and correctional facilities, building on the same access-focused approach.

Residents in Upstate New York and rural areas now have greater access to methadone treatment at more than 130 locations statewide. Medication-Assisted Treatment is also available in all jails and prisons, which may affect people seeking care while incarcerated or after release.

The takeaway

Access to addiction treatment depends heavily on where people live, so expanding services into rural and correctional settings can close gaps that communities have long reported. Residents seeking help can check with local providers about Medication-Assisted Treatment availability near them.