The New York State Joint Senate Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Addiction is adding more public forums to gather more information on the rampant drug problem in the state.

The group will take comments at 4 p.m. October 25th at the Cortland County Office Building Auditorium in Cortland and at 10 a.m. November 14th at the Newburg Armory Unity Center on William Street.

Broome County Senator Fred Akshar is a member of the task force.

Akshar says the task force is taking a bottom-up approach in dealing with addiction by listening to stakeholders.

The senators had forms over the summer in Johnstown, Buffalo and on Long Island.

The task force this year secured $214 million in the state budget for prevention, treatment and education services.

More From 99.1 The Whale