Mid-Hudson News reports that Ulster County elected and law enforcement officials and substance abuse prevention personnel gathered October 20, at the county Law Enforcement Center in Kingston to celebrate a new federal $1.3 million grant to help the county cope with the ongoing opioid epidemic. “I think it’s important to recognize the importance of what we are doing here to help people,” said Sheriff Juan Figueroa. Former Ulster County executive, now Congressperson, Pat Ryan sought help during his administration to try and slow the opioid epidemic. “We had to declare a public health emergency in 2020, for fentanyl to raise awareness of just how deadly and lethal it can be, and how seriously need to take that,” he said. Between January 2021 and August 2022, the county’s Opioid Response as County Law Enforcement unit had 683 referrals for treatment and distributed 1,835 Naloxone kits to treat overdoses. The grant will help the county fund new positions to fight the county’s opioid problems. Read the full story at Mid-HudsonNews [dot] com.