Shaheen, Hassan Announce Over $2 Million in Federal Aid to Help Fight Opioid Epidemic
(Washington, DC)—Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) announced over $2 million dollars in federal funds to help combat New Hampshire’s opioid epidemic. The funds will be allocated through different awards from the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, of which both senators offered letters of support, and from the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
“This funding is crucial to our communities and treatment centers that are at the forefront of this epidemic,” said Shaheen. “New Hampshire has been one of the most hard-hit states in the nation, so these federal funds could not come at a more critical time to help Granite State first responders and medical personnel, who are on the frontlines and managing the effects of this crisis every day. While I’m glad to see these necessary federal dollars come back to New Hampshire, more work lies ahead to ensure we have the requisite federal support to address the full scope of this epidemic.”
“Getting more resources to those on the front lines of the heroin, fentanyl, and opioid epidemic is critical to stemming – and ultimately – reversing this horrific epidemic that is devastating our communities and taking a massive toll on our economy in New Hampshire,” Senator Hassan said. “This funding is important to strengthening prevention, treatment, recovery, and law enforcement efforts, but there is much more work ahead to combat this crisis, including fighting as hard we can to stop the Graham-Cassidy Trumpcare bill that would be devastating to New Hampshire's efforts to support Granite Staters struggling with addiction."
New Hampshire has been overwhelmed by the opioid epidemic, which killed over 400 Granite Staters last year. Nearly $800,000 will go to the New Hampshire State Department of Safety from the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention to invest in training for first responders, provide essential information on treatment and recovery options, and to support the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services’ efforts on the ground. The Drug-Free Communities Program (DFC), which is operated by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, will award New Hampshire $1.5 million to help local community partners to prevent youth substance abuse. The DCF funding will be spread across 12 different New Hampshire regional centers.
Senator Shaheen has been a leading figure on combating the opioid epidemic, and has relentlessly called on the Trump administration to take action on the crisis that has taken root in New Hampshire communities. Last week, Senators Shaheen and Hassan joined eight of their colleagues to call on the President to take immediate action on the opioid crisis and answer specific questions about the President’s announcement that he would declare the epidemic a national emergency. Both senators have consistently fought for additional federal funding that matches the growing crisis facing Granite State communities.
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