Shaheen Ushers Through Key NH Priorities in Senate-Passed Bill to Combat Opioid Crisis

Statement

U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) released the following statement after the Senate passed the Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018, legislation addressing the fentanyl, heroin, and opioid epidemic with overwhelming bipartisan support. The legislation includes Shaheen priorities to assist New Hampshire, including enabling the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to prioritize funding for states like New Hampshire that are hardest hit and extending authorization of the prescription drug monitoring program. The bill also includes provisions from legislation Senator Shaheen introduced with Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) to establish a National Peer-Run Training and Technical Assistance Center for Addiction Recovery Support and provide peer support networks with the resources and training they need to help combat the opioid crisis.

"Turning the tide of this crisis requires a multifaceted approach that focuses on prevention and treatment for those struggling with substance use disorder, community support networks for families who have been impacted by the epidemic, drug monitoring programs to decrease misuse of prescription opioids and federal assistance for interdiction efforts to stop the trafficking of illegal substances from entering our communities. These measures are critical for New Hampshire families, health care providers and first responders, and I am very pleased to see that today's legislation includes these priorities," said Shaheen. "I appreciate the good-faith, bipartisan negotiations that paved the way for this bill and I will continue to work across the aisle to guide this legislation through Congress and to the President's desk."

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