What's happening
This bill creates a pilot program to provide peer support services for families of individuals affected by substance use disorders.
Why it matters
Expands support for families, not just individuals. By focusing on families of those with substance use disorders, the bill recognizes the broader impact of addiction and aims to strengthen family resilience and involvement in recovery.
Emphasizes lived experience over clinical expertise. The pilot program centers on peer support from people who have personal experience with substance use and recovery, which can foster trust and relatability often lacking in traditional clinical services.
Provides practical, hands-on help. Services include not only emotional support but also accompanying families to appointments, crisis help after hospitalizations/incarcerations, and engagement with first responders—offering real-world assistance for families during critical moments.
Promotes awareness and navigation of recovery options. The program will educate families about different recovery methods (including medication-assisted treatment) and connect them to broader support networks, potentially improving outcomes and reducing stigma.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Peer Support for Families
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to alcoholism and drug abuse
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
9525
IN ASSEMBLY
January 19, 2018
Introduced by M. of A. L. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to establishing peer support services for family members of individuals affected by substance use disorders
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new section 19.18-b to read as follows: § 19.18-b Peer support services for families of substance abusers.
1. For purposes of this section "peer support services" means participant-centered services that emphasize knowledge and wisdom through lived experience in which peers are encouraged to share their own personal experience and first-hand knowledge of substance abuse, addiction, and recovery to support those with family members affected by substance use disorders.
2. The commissioner, in consultation with the department of health, shall develop a pilot program to provide peer support services for families of individuals affected by substance use disorders. The commissioner shall identify and establish where such pilot program's services will be provided. Such pilot program shall provide services to family members including but not limited to:
(a) developing coping plans;
(b) raising awareness of existing social and other support services;
(c) modeling coping skills;
(d) accompanying clients to medical appointments;
(e) providing non-clinical crisis support after periods of hospitalization or incarceration of family members;
(f) working with participants to identify strengths;
(g) educating program participants about various modes of recovery, including, but not limited to, medication assisted treatment; and
(h) peer engagement coordination with law enforcement departments, fire departments and other first responder departments to learn how to assist any individual that is suffering from an apparent overdose.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14048-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.