SHAHEEN INTRODUCES BUDGET AMENDMENT TO COMBAT HEROIN ADDICTION

(WASHINGTON, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) yesterday introduced an amendment to the Senate fiscal year 2016 federal budget that would create a deficit-neutral reserve fund to address the growing heroin addiction epidemic. The fund would be used to combat heroin addiction by supporting prevention, enforcement, interdiction and recovery efforts across the country. According to the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (NHDHHS), the number of people admitted to state treatment programs due to heroin addiction increased 90 percent over the past 10 years, with the largest increases occurring in just the last two years.

“Providing states and communities with the resources they need to combat heroin addiction is a critical component of improving public health and safety,” Shaheen said. “Opioid drug abuse has reached epidemic proportions in New Hampshire, and we must combat this problem on all fronts, by supporting law enforcement, treatment and awareness efforts.”

As part of her efforts to combat drug abuse and addiction, Shaheen has also reintroduced bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the National All-Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting (NASPER) program which provides grants to states to maintain, improve, and expand their prescription drug monitoring programs. Shaheen has also held roundtables throughout New Hampshire to bring together health officials, community leaders and law enforcement to discuss collaborates efforts to fight heroin abuse.