Combating the Substance Misuse Crisis
“The fentanyl, heroin, and opioid crisis is the most pressing public health and safety challenge facing New Hampshire, and states across our country. I am committed to working with anyone who is serious about ensuring that those on the front lines have the resources and support that they need to stem – and ultimately reverse – the deadly tide of this epidemic.” – Senator Hassan
Senator Hassan is working across party lines to strengthen prevention, treatment, recovery, and law enforcement efforts to help save lives and combat the devastating opioid epidemic. As part of these efforts, Senator Hassan helped to secure more than $50 million in additional federal funding for New Hampshire to support those on the front lines of this epidemic – including by working with the Trump Administration to ensure that hardest-hit states like New Hampshire are prioritized.
Additionally, Senator Hassan worked to secure critical priorities for New Hampshire in comprehensive, bipartisan opioid legislation that the President signed into law in 2018. The bipartisan legislation included measures introduced by Senator Hassan to expand opioid recovery centers, crack down on bad actors in the pharmaceutical industry, train more doctors to prescribe medication-assisted treatment, and more.
To support law enforcement on the front lines of this epidemic, Senator Hassan joined colleagues in introducing the bipartisan STOP Act – which was included in the comprehensive bill that the President signed – to help curb the shipment of fentanyl and other synthetic drugs sent through the U.S. Postal Service to drug traffickers in the United States. Senator Hassan also cosponsored the bipartisan INTERDICT Act, which the President signed into law, to ensure that U.S. Customs and Border Protection has the tools that it needs to detect and intercept fentanyl and other illegal synthetic opioids at the border.
Additionally, Senator Hassan will continue to speak out against efforts to undermine Americans’ health care, such as proposals to repeal Medicaid expansion, which experts have called the number one tool to help combat the opioid crisis. The Senator also remains focused on working across the aisle to strengthen the substance misuse workforce, eliminate barriers to medication-assisted treatment, increase funding for and improve the standards of recovery housing, and support children and grandchildren impacted by this crisis.
This epidemic is affecting Granite Staters and Americans from all walks of life, and Senator Hassan will keep working to ensure that the federal government is providing the additional funding and resources needed to support those on the front lines.
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March 20, 2020
Shaheen & Hassan Statements on 2020 Grant Award to Assist New Hampshire in Battling the Substance Use Crisis
( U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) issued the following statements after the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced that New Hampshire will receive $28 million in federal funding through State Opioid Response (SOR) grants for substance use disorder treatment in 2020. For the first time, this grant funding can be used to help those with meth and cocaine dependencies thanks to a provision that Senator Shaheen recently secured in government funding legislation in December.
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March 12, 2020
Bipartisan Hassan-Led Bills to Bolster Cybersecurity at All Levels of Government Pass Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
WASHINGTON - The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee yesterday approved bipartisan legislation introduced by Senator Maggie Hassan to establish a Cybersecurity State Coordinator position in every state. Each state’s coordinator would help their state to prevent and respond to cybersecurity threats by working with federal, state, and local governments as well as schools, hospitals, and other entities.
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February 20, 2020
Senator Hassan Visits SOS Recovery in Hampton to Discuss Federal Efforts to Combat Substance Misuse
HAMPTON - In case you missed it, Senator Maggie Hassan yesterday visited SOS Recovery Community Organization to discuss federal efforts to combat the substance misuse epidemic. The senator heard from recovery specialists and law enforcement about innovative approaches to help put more people on the path to recovery. Learn more about SOS Recovery Community Organization in Hampton here.
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February 18, 2020
WMUR Highlights Senator Hassan’s Bipartisan Bill to Train More Doctors in Substance Misuse Recovery & Prevention
MANCHESTER - In case you missed it, WMUR highlighted bipartisan legislation that Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) introduced with Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) to support hospitals in hiring and training doctors in addiction medicine, addiction psychiatry, and pain management. The bipartisan Opioid Workforce Act would create 1,000 new medical residency positions at teaching hospitals in New Hampshire and across the country.
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February 04, 2020
Senator Hassan Responds to President Trump’s State of the Union Address
WASHINGTON -Senator Maggie Hassan issued the following statement tonight in response to President Trump’s State of the Union address. The Senator brought as her guest Laconia Police Officer Eric Adams, who has gained national recognition for his work as Laconia’s Prevention, Enforcement, and Treatment Coordinator. In this role – the first of its kind in New England – Officer Adams has helped revolutionize the way that law enforcement across the country approach combating substance misuse.
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January 30, 2020
Hassan-Backed Bipartisan Bill Targeting Fentanyl Analogues Heads to President’s Desk
WASHINGTON - The House of Representatives last night passed bipartisan legislation cosponsored by Senator Maggie Hassan to help ensure that law enforcement has the tools it needs to curb the opioid epidemic and better target fentanyl analogues, which contribute to the devastating substance misuse epidemic in New Hampshire and across the country. The bill now heads to the President’s desk for his signature.
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January 29, 2020
Senator Hassan to Host Laconia Police Officer Eric Adams, Who Has Led Efforts to Combat Substance Misuse in New Hampshire, as Her State of the Union Guest
WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan announced today that she will host Laconia Police Officer Eric Adams as her guest of honor for President Trump’s State of the Union Address on Tuesday, February 4. Eric has gained national recognition for his work as Laconia’s Prevention, Enforcement, and Treatment Coordinator. In this role – the first of its kind in New England – Eric has helped revolutionize the way that law enforcement across the country approach drug addiction and recovery, prioritizing meeting people where they are at to help them get the treatment and support that they need to overcome substance use disorder.
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