Keane, Tierney support legislation to combat opioid crisis [Video]

Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) – Erie County’s Acting District Attorney joins his counterpart from Suffolk County in supporting state legislation aimed at fighting the opioid overdose epidemic in New York.

Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael Keane was joined by Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney on Wednesday, along with Erie County Sheriff John Garcia to announce their support for bi-partisan legislation that would enhance the ability of state prosecutors to hold drug dealers criminally accountable for contributing to the synthetic opioid epidemic and overdose crisis impacting communities throughout New York State.

Earlier this year, District Attorney Tierney announced his support for bills that would allow prosecutors to charge individuals who sell narcotics that result in a fatal overdose with manslaughter (“Chelsey’s Law”), add Xylazine to the list of controlled substances, and allow the families of fatal overdose victims to apply for crime victim assistance funds.

“The increased prevalence of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids …