CHENANGO COUNTY – Chenago’s heroin epidemic is a reflection of a larger crisis that’s spreading across the country; but the fight to stop that crisis is being dramatically underfunded, according to U.S. Senator Charles Schumer.

Schumer is calling on the federal legislature to pass funding to confront the growing heroin and opioid abuse epidemic, arguing that rhetoric simply isn’t enough. Upstate health officials, treatment providers and law enforcement agencies need more funding for prevention, treatment and emergency response programs to counter the upsurge of heroin use, and now is the time for Congress to act, he said.

Specifically, Schumer’s vying for $600 million for the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services for local governments to access for education and prevention programs.