At Franklin Police Department, Senator Hassan Hears About Impact of Opioid Crisis on First Responders, Discusses Efforts to Support First Responders on Front Lines

FRANKLIN – Senator Maggie Hassan today met with first responders and city leaders at the Franklin Police Department, where she heard about the impact of traumatic stress from the opioid crisis on first responders and how she can continue to support their efforts on the front lines of this crisis. Senator Hassan was joined by Franklin Police Chief David Goldstein, Police Lieutenant Stephanie Clough, Franklin Fire Chief Michael Foss, Fire Captain Bruce Goldthwaite, and City Manager Judie Milner. The Senator was also joined by Eric Golnick and John Mulet of Veteran and First Responder (VFR) Healthcare.

“We’re all painfully aware of the impact that the substance misuse crisis is having throughout our state, and I know that this crisis is taking a heavy toll on fire fighters, police officers, and EMTs – particularly with regard to their safety and mental health,” Senator Hassan said. “I am focused on ensuring that our first responders and law enforcement have the support that they need to do their jobs as effectively as possible while protecting their own mental and physical health.”

Last year, President Trump signed the bipartisan SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, which included a measure that the Senator joined in introducing to expand training programs to ensure that first responders are safe when they respond to an overdose. The bipartisan legislation also included other key measures to support law enforcement such as the STOP Act, which Senator Hassan cosponsored to curb the shipment of fentanyl into the country through U.S. Postal Service, and the Preventing Drug Diversion Act, which Senator Hassan introduced to help crack down on bad actors in the pharmaceutical industry who fail to report suspicious orders to the DEA.  

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