Albany, NY - December 6, 2016 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the launch of a newly upgraded web-based search tool to help connect residents struggling with addiction to treatment. The OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard application allows New Yorkers to access any service in the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services continuum of care, including crisis, residential, inpatient, and now -- outpatient and opioid treatment programs. By using the online and mobile-friendly platform, any New Yorker, including treatment providers, care coordinators, and health insurance professionals, can easily find a treatment bed or other available services, anywhere in the state and in real time.
"Addiction is a disease that knows no bounds and we must make sure New Yorkers seeking help know where they can find it," Governor Cuomo said. "With this expanded online resource, those in need will now be able to access up to date, localized information on the resources available to help them on their journey to recovery."
Through the newly expanded application available at FindAddictionTreatment.ny.gov, visitors can find up-to-date information on available treatment beds, outpatient services and opioid treatment programs anywhere in the state, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The application's search feature includes proximity searches that return reports on available treatment within three, five, 10, 25 and 50 miles of the searcher’s location. Queries are simple and customizable allowing for searches by location, gender of the patient, age, city, county or zip code as specified by the user.
Those searching on the system are also given the telephone number of every program that is returned by a search. Patients are encouraged to call ahead to confirm the availability of a treatment slot. Mobile users can simply click on the treatment provider’s phone number to call the provider.
NYS OASAS Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez said, "OASAS remains dedicated to improving access to addiction treatment services. I'm excited about this new tool and encourage all New Yorkers in need to use it."
New York State Chief Information Officer Margaret Miller said, "New York State is continuing to lead the way in deploying innovative technology solutions to help improve vital citizen services. The OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard is a great example of our continued commitment to implement tools that better respond to the needs of New York’s citizens. The Dashboard greatly improves the ability of New Yorkers to find addiction treatment services in real time, at any location, 24 hours a day, seven days a week."
The expanded OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard is the latest addition to the Governor’s aggressive statewide efforts to address the heroin and opioid public health crisis. In the last two years and at the direction of Governor Cuomo, new opioid treatment programs have opened in Albany, Buffalo, the Bronx, Peekskill, Plattsburgh, Syracuse, Rome and Watertown. Additional programs are underway in Utica, Oswego and Troy. The Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services has also added new residential treatment beds in Staten Island and 130 new beds in Albany, Niagara, Suffolk and Westchester counties.
New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369). Available addiction treatment including crisis/detox, inpatient, community residence, or outpatient care can be found using this new and improved NYS OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard or through the Access Treatment page on the NYS OASAS website.
Visit the #CombatAddiction website to learn more about how you can help to #CombatAddiction in your community. Visit www.combatheroin.ny.gov for more information on addressing heroin and prescription opioid abuse, including a Kitchen Table Tool Kit to help start the conversation about the warning signs of addiction and where to get help. For tools to use in talking to a young person about preventing alcohol or drug use, visit the State’s Talk2Prevent website
