State Senator James Seward has announced  senate passage of a package of legislation to fight the growing heroin and opioid abuse epidemic. 

A bill sponsored by Senator Seward  that would improve access to insurance coverage for substance abuse treatment and dependency services was part of the package.

Senator Seward was appointed to the New York State Senate Joint Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Addiction in March and hosted a task force forum in Oneonta to solicit input from local health care professionals, addiction experts, law enforcement officials, and concerned citizens.

In all, 18 forums were held across the state.

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