Cuomo Signs New York Heroin Legislation Into Law

VESTAL, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signed legislation aimed at combating the sharp rise in heroin and opioid use in New York state.

The Legislature passed 11 heroin-related bills before the 2014 session ended on Friday. Cuomo signed the bills late Monday morning at Binghamton University in the town of Vestal.

The measures include provisions requiring insurance companies to consistently cover treatment for addiction, funding for public awareness of drug use and funding for more New York state troopers to investigate heroin trafficking.

At the signing, Cuomo said a third of heroin seized by the Drug Enforcement Agency came from New York.

"Heroin has become a public health crisis in communities across the nation, but today New York State is taking a stand to turn the tide on this epidemic," Cuomo said.

State public health officials say deaths from heroin overdoses in New York more than doubled from 215 in 2008 to 478 in 2012.

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