Governor Hassan Issues Executive Order Establishing Drug Overdose Fatality Review Committee

Press Release

Continuing her efforts to combat the heroin, opioid and fentanyl epidemic and help save lives, Governor Maggie Hassan today issued an Executive Order establishing the Drug Overdose Fatality Review Committee.

Bringing together experts from the public safety, public health, and prevention, treatment and recovery communities, the Drug Overdose Fatality Review Committee will examine data, trends and patterns of overdose-related deaths to inform policy recommendations and to ensure that resources are being allocated as effectively as possible.

"The heroin, opioid and fentanyl crisis is the most urgent public health and public safety issue facing New Hampshire, and we must continue working together on a comprehensive strategy to support law enforcement and strengthen prevention, treatment and recovery," Governor Hassan said. "By analyzing data, trends and patterns of drug overdose-related deaths, this committee will help inform policy recommendations and the effective allocation of resources as we continue working with stakeholders battling addiction on the front lines to combat this horrible epidemic and help save lives."

The Drug Overdose Fatality Review Committee will examine trends and patterns of overdose-related fatalities and make recommendations to ensure the efficient allocation of state resources; identify high-risk factors, current practices and gaps in systemic responses; recommend policies, practices and services to encourage collaboration between stakeholders; improve data collection and information-sharing; and provide education about overdose-related fatalities and effective intervention, prevention, treatment and recovery strategies.

Creating a Drug Overdose Fatality Review Committee was included as a complementary strategic recommendation in the update on the State's comprehensive response to the heroin and opioid health crisis presented by Governor Hassan and the Governor's Advisor on Addiction and Behavioral Health, James Vara.

Membership of the committee will include:

Attorney General, or designee;
Chief Medical Examiner, or designee;
The Commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services, or designee;
Representatives from the Department of Safety's Forensic Laboratory, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, and Information and Analysis Center, Drug Monitoring Initiative, appointed by the Commissioner of the Department of Safety;
The Chair of the Governor's Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery, or designee;
A representative of the New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police, appointed by the Association;
A representative of the New Hampshire Association of Fire Chiefs, appointed by the Association;
A victim/witness advocate, appointed by the Attorney General;
A representative of the New Hampshire Hospital Association, appointed by the Association;
A representative of the recovery community, appointed by the Governor;
A representative of the treatment community, appointed by the Governor;
A representative of the prevention community, appointed by the Governor;
A representative from an organization that advocates on substance use issues, appointed by the Governor;
A representative of the Drug Enforcement Administration, appointed by the DEA; and
The Governor's Advisor on Addiction and Behavioral Health;

Last November, Governor Hassan called for a special session of the legislature and proposed comprehensive legislation to support law enforcement and strengthen prevention, treatment and recovery services in combating the heroin, opioid and fentanyl crisis. This year, the Governor signed bipartisan legislation reflecting most of that proposal, including: cracking down on fentanyl, establishing a statewide grant program to assist local law enforcement in seizing illicit drugs and arresting dealers, limiting prior authorization requirements for treatment, making improvements to New Hampshire's prescription drug monitoring program, requiring all prescribing boards to update prescribing rules for opioids, establishing a statewide drug court program, providing funding to upgrade technology for the prescription drug monitoring program and providing $5 million in additional resources for prevention, treatment and recovery as well as supportive housing.

In addition, the Governor fought to reauthorize the bipartisan New Hampshire Health Protection Program, which has provided substance misuse and behavioral health services to thousands of Granite Staters, and she has worked to revise licensing requirements to make it easier for providers to open treatment facilities, to increase the safe and effective use of Narcan, to increase medication-assisted treatment in New Hampshire and to launch a statewide substance misuse hotline to help connect individuals with resources 24 hours a day, seven days a week. She has also signed bipartisan bills allowing drug take-back programs at pharmacies, simplifying the licensing process for alcohol and drug abuse counselors who move to New Hampshire and requiring public schools to include drug and alcohol education as part of their health education curriculum.

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