NH Delegation Announces More Than $1.2 Million to Combat the Substance Use Disorder Epidemic

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the lead Democrat on the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, today announced with Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) that the Department of Justice (DOJ) awarded $1,215,137 to the New Hampshire Department of Justice (NHDOJ) in support of efforts to combat the substance use disorder epidemic. Specifically, the funding will be used to tackle recidivism among Granite Staters struggling with substance use disorder and enhance the state’s prescription drug monitoring system.

Of the funds listed, $493,000 was awarded through the DOJ’s Adult Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court Discretionary Grant Program, which aims to reduce recidivism and substance abuse through the creation and expansion of adult drug courts. An additional $722,137 was awarded through the DOJ’s Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-based Program, which bolsters state efforts to establish or enhance state prescription drug monitoring systems.

“One of the most common responses I hear from our law enforcement community about the substance use disorder epidemic is that we cannot jail our way out of this crisis. And they’re absolutely right. That’s why this latest allotment of federal grant funding to reduce recidivism among Granite Staters struggling with this disease is so important,” said Senator Shaheen. “I’m also pleased that our state will receive additional resources for the prescription drug monitoring system to ensure prescribed opioids don’t fall into the wrong hands and are kept off our streets. As the lead Democrat of the Subcommittee that funds the Department of Justice, boosting support for these federal grant programs will continue to be one of my top priorities.”

“These federal grants will support efforts to continue to improve New Hampshire’s drug courts and enhance the state’s prescription drug monitoring system,” Senator Hassan said. “Federal grants like these are crucial to our efforts to combat the devastating substance misuse crisis, and I will continue working across the aisle to secure additional resources to help turn the tide of this epidemic.”

“We’ve made great progress in our fight to combat the opioid epidemic in New Hampshire, but there’s more we must do,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “This funding will help strengthen and improve programs that are critical in preventing substance use disorder, providing treatment, and supporting those who are struggling with addiction. I’ll continue working to secure funding and resources that will aid us in our efforts to curb the opioid crisis.”

“As our medical professionals, first responders, and law enforcement work tirelessly to combat this epidemic, it is essential we provide them with the resources they need to prevent substance abuse, coordinate care, and support individuals’ recovery,” said Congressman Pappas. “These funds from the Department of Justice will go a long way in providing New Hampshire with effective tools to save lives and keep our communities safe.”

Senator Shaheen has led response efforts in the Senate to stop the substance use disorder epidemic. In bipartisan funding legislation for fiscal year (FY) 2020, Shaheen secured a provision based on a key component in her Turn the Tide Act that provides new flexibility for the State Opioid Response (SOR) grant program to allow treatment providers to be able to use opioid response grant dollars to help patients suffering from meth and cocaine dependency, in addition to opioid use disorder. The government funding legislation also funds the SOR grant program at $1.5 billion for the year and maintains the 15 percent set-aside for hardest-hit states that Shaheen secured in government funding legislation in each of the past two years.

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