Across New York, the opioid crisis continues to take lives, destroy families and strain our communities. For all the progress we’ve made, too many people are still falling through the cracks — not because we lack the resources, but because we’re too slow to use them.

New York has received more than $2 billion through opioid settlement agreements — money that was meant to turn the tide on addiction. Yet today, hundreds of millions of those dollars remain unspent. That’s not just a missed opportunity — it’s a moral failure.

In our rural communities, the crisis looks different — and the solutions must meet that reality. Here in the North Country, it’s not uncommon for someone in treatment to drive 60, even 100 miles round-trip every day just to access methadone. That’s not recovery — that’s a full-time job. People miss work, miss time with their families, and too often, lose hope. And when hope is lost, relapse and recidivism follow.

We also need a complete toolkit for overdose reversals. All FDA-approved formulations — including higher-dose naloxone sprays and longer-acting nalmefene — should be available alongside standard Narcan, letting first responders choose the best option for the situation at hand. Diversifying these tools could save more lives and stretch limited dollars further.

We need to be smarter — and faster — about how we respond. Long-acting injectable treatments, like extended-release buprenorphine, offer a lifeline. These medications reduce cravings, improve adherence and allow people to focus on rebuilding their lives instead of planning their days around a clinic visit. They’ve been proven to reduce relapse, lower overdose risk and cut criminal justice costs. And they’re already funded in the state prison system.

So why aren’t we doing the same in our county jails and rural communities — where the need is just as great?

Sheriffs, judges and addiction counselors are all saying the same thing: give us the tools. Our local jails are overwhelmed. Providers are under-resourced. Families are exhausted. And yet the funds sit untouched in Albany.

This isn’t about politics — it’s about doing right by the people we serve. Treatment works. Innovation works. But only if we put it to work where it matters most.

Let’s stop patting ourselves on the back for funding that hasn’t reached the front lines. Let’s accelerate the release of opioid settlement dollars and use them to expand access to long-acting medications in county jails, rural health centers, and community-based programs across the state.

Every delay costs lives. Every missed opportunity means more heartbreak. It’s time to act.

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Assemblyman Matt Simpson represents New York’s 114th Assembly District, which includes Essex, Warren, and parts of Saratoga, Washington, and Fulton counties.