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.
Related News
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April 01, 2021
Following Calls from Senator Hassan, Biden Administration Pledges to Increase Access to Medication-Assisted Treatment and Target Drug Trafficking on the Dark Web
WASHINGTON - Following calls from U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), the Biden administration announced today that it would work to remove unnecessary barriers to prescribing buprenorphine, a proven medication-assisted treatment for substance use disorder, as well as strengthen efforts to target illicit drug trafficking on the dark web.
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March 29, 2021
Senator Hassan Joins in Introducing Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Treatment and Recovery Services for Incarcerated Individuals
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan joined colleagues in introducing the bipartisan Residential Substance Use Disorder Treatment Act, which would expand access to important substance use disorder treatments in jails and prisons in New Hampshire and across the country, and help those exiting correctional facilities continue their treatment in the community. According to the most recent estimates in New Hampshire, more than 50 percent of inmates at New Hampshire Department of Corrections have been diagnosed with opioid use disorder.
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March 17, 2021
NH Delegation Announces More than $9 Million Secured in December COVID-19 Relief to Combat the Substance Use Disorder Epidemic & Support Mental Health Services in NH
( U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced today with U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) that New Hampshire will receive $9,443,931 in federal grants allocated under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act that was passed by Congress and signed into law in December. Specifically, the funding was awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and will support efforts to combat the substance use disorder epidemic and bolster access to mental health services in the state during the COVID-19 pandemic. During negotiations for the emergency COVID-19 relief legislation that passed Congress and was signed into law in December, Shaheen successfully fought for the inclusion of language – which Hassan supported – providing $4.25 billion in funding for substance use disorder treatment and mental health care.Read More -
March 10, 2021
Senator Hassan Votes to Confirm Merrick Garland as Attorney General
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) today voted to confirm Judge Merrick Garland as the next Attorney General of the United States. Earlier in the day, Senator Hassan met one-on-one with Judge Garland to discuss New Hampshire priorities for the Justice Department.
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March 05, 2021
Following Push from Senator Hassan, Department of Homeland Security to Fully Implement Hassan-Backed Legislation to Stop Influx of Synthetic Opioids & Fentanyl into the U.S.
WASHINGTON - The Department of Homeland Security this week announced steps to fully implement the bipartisan STOP Act that Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) worked to pass into law in order to strengthen efforts to block illegal drug trafficking.
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February 26, 2021
Senator Hassan Questions President Biden’s Nominees for Key Public Health Positions about Substance Misuse and Pandemic Fatigue During Committee Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) questioned President Joe Biden’s nominees for Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, and Assistant Secretary of Health at the Department of Health and Human Services, Dr. Rachel Levine, on the substance misuse crisis and pandemic fatigue during a hearing yesterday of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.
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February 23, 2021
Senator Hassan Pushes for Continued Focus on Substance Misuse Epidemic During Nomination Hearing for Health and Human Services Secretary, Attorney General Xavier Becerra
WASHINGTON - During a Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing today, U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) questioned Xavier Becerra, President Joe Biden’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Senator Hassan discussed the importance of continuing to support New Hampshire’s efforts to combat the substance misuse epidemic and implementing the surprise medical billing legislation that she worked to pass into law. Senator Hassan also addressed new COVID-19 variants.
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