We probably don’t need to tell you that opioids are an endemic problem affecting the Southern Tier. The primary natural opioids derived from opium poppies are morphine and codeine and can be modified to yield hydromorphone, hydrocodone, oxycodone, and heroin. Fully synthetic opioids include fentanyl, methadone, and tramadol.

Noonan Brown Law has been fielding a brisk number of cases related to the sale or use of opioids, and we are alarmed by the pervasiveness of this problem and the havoc it wrecks on individuals, families and on the community. Our hard-won experience has shown that many property crimes and other criminal activity is traced to the epidemic, and newly minted District Attorney Stephen Cornwell prioritized this crisis in his office.

Listen to his remarks in this interview on WNBF’s “Binghamton NOW” radio show.

While Broome County’s chief prosecutor expresses grave concern over the strain and drain over this problem, he is not all doom and gloom, and has initiated many affirmative measures to address this problem.

Chris Brown Law shares the sentiment of many in the criminal justice system that addiction is a disease and whenever possible, we fiercely advocate for treatment and alternatives to incarceration.

One such hybrid program is the Adult Drug Treatment Court – known more popularly in circles as “drug court” – provides qualified addicted offenders a “comprehensive drug treatment program under intensive judicial supervision which includes educational and vocational training”. If you or a loved one has an addiction, we urge you to take proactive action to unfetter the surly shackles of opioids and we can refer you trusted resources that can assist in this regard.

If this disease rears its ugly head in the form of a criminal offense, you need the counsel of Chris Brown Law.

If you are charged with a drug-related offense in Broome, Tioga, Chenango, Cortland or Chemung County, contact Chris Brown Law to mount the most aggressive defense and get the legal advice that you need.