Final answer:
The NYS Controlled Substance Act was amended in response to the opioid crisis and the transition from prescription drug abuse to more dangerous substances. Enhanced measures include increased recovery services, access to Naloxone, and stricter drug regulations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The NYS Controlled Substance Act saw prescriptive changes largely due to the rising rates of opioid overdoses and abuse of prescription drugs like Oxycodone, heroin, Fentanyl, and synthetic opioids. The scarcity and higher street prices of prescription pain pills caused by increased policing of pill mills and a reformulation of Oxycodone led to users turning to more dangerous and cheaper alternatives. In response, government action has included recovery services, improving access to overdose-reversal drugs such as Naloxone, and better public health monitoring systems. These changes are a shift from a less strict regulation era to more rigorous scrutiny, especially for new drugs, to combat the crisis effectively.