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AGENCY TESTIMONY
Forensic Toxicology Laboratory advancements in overdose testing
3:45:39
ยท
63 sec
Dr. Graham details the advancements made by OCME's Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, particularly in addressing the overdose crisis.
- The lab is the oldest of its kind in the nation
- Recent investments from opioid settlement funds have bolstered the lab's capabilities
- New staff and equipment allow for more sensitive testing with accelerated turnaround time
- The time to deliver testing results in fatal drug overdose cases has been reduced by nearly 50% to 40 days
- These efforts contributed to the first slight reduction in the number of overdose deaths in four years
Jason Graham
3:45:39
Our forensic toxicology laboratory is the oldest of its kind in the nation.
3:45:43
The lab advanced its legacy of excellence in the last year, bolstered by investments from the administration in the fight against the overdose crisis.
3:45:50
An infusion of staff and new equipment from the opioid settlement funds allowed the lab to perform more sensitive testing with an accelerated turnaround time, reducing the time it takes to deliver testing results in fatal drug overdose cases by nearly fifty percent to forty days.
3:46:06
The efforts of the forensic toxicology laboratory to provide timely and accurate data for the public health and justice systems contributed to the first slight reduction in the number of overdose deaths our city has seen in four years, as reported by the administration in the fall.
3:46:20
While we still have a long way to go and too many families are still being affected, we're making progress in this battle, and OCME is marshaling our resources of forensic science and medicine to make a difference for New Yorkers.
3:46:34
The sensitive nature of our work provides OCME with unique access to populations experiencing the most challenging events of their lives.