Governor Hassan, Senator Shaheen Host Heroin Roundtable in Nashua, Participate in Manchester Walking Tour with Director of National Drug Control Policy

Statement

This morning, Governor Maggie Hassan and U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen hosted the Director of National Drug Control Policy, Michael Botticelli, at a roundtable discussion in Nashua on how New Hampshire can better partner with the federal government to address the state's growing heroin and prescription drug addiction epidemic. Governor Hassan, Senator Shaheen and Director Botticelli were joined by city and state officials, including New Hampshire Department of Safety Commissioner John Barthelmes and New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Nick Toumpas. Following the roundtable, Governor Hassan, Senator Shaheen, Director Botticelli and U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte joined Manchester Police Chief Nick Willard for a walking tour in Manchester to see conditions on the ground firsthand.

"Combating the heroin and opioid crisis is going to require collaborative efforts every day at all levels - from local, state and federal government, to law enforcement and public safety officials, to the health care community and treatment providers," Governor Hassan said. "Today's events with Senator Shaheen and Director Boticelli were critical to bringing together various stakeholders in our two biggest cities to highlight our ongoing efforts and discuss how we can further strengthen our efforts to combat substance abuse, which is the most pressing public health and safety challenge facing our state. We know that we cannot arrest our way out of this problem and that we must boost prevention efforts and strengthen treatment and recovery programs through initiatives like the bipartisan New Hampshire Health Protection Program, which is providing coverage for substance abuse treatment to thousands of Granite Staters."

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