LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. — Part two of a four-part Siena College poll out today shows that many New Yorkers see doctors who over-prescribe opioids as the single most responsible contributor to the opioid abuse crisis.
And two-thirds of people in the state say that government agencies aren't doing as much as they can to address opioid abuse.
Nearly 1400 New Yorkers were surveyed as part of a community effort by a group called Prescription for Progress: United Against Opioid Addiction — a newly formed coalition of healthcare, media, law enforcement, education and business leaders in the Albany area. Their goal is to raise awareness and take positive steps to address the problem.
Those who were surveyed were also asked how they want to see money allocated to address the opioid crisis.
They responded that they want to see a quarter of available money used for treatment and rehabilitation, 22 percent for addressing root causes of addiction and drug abuse, 19 percent for public education and awareness, 18 percent to hold people responsible through litigation and regulation and the remaining 16 percent to go to the criminal justice system to address the issue.
Parts three and four of the poll will be released in the coming weeks.
