Shaheen Statement on the Surgeon General’s Comprehensive Report on Addiction

**SHAHEEN: “This report is clear: evidence-based, medical treatment is fundamental to curing substance use disorder and it’s time for bold federal action.”**

 **Report says 27 million Americans report use of illicit drugs or misuse of prescription drugs**

 **Only 10% with substance use disorders receive any type of treatment**

(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen(D-NH) released the following statement on the U.S. Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs and Health released today.

“This report is clear: evidence-based, medical treatment is fundamental to curing substance use disorder and it’s time for bold federal action,” said Shaheen. “I whole heartedly agree with the U.S. Surgeon General that the path our nation is on is unsustainable. The vast majority of those suffering from substance misuse in New Hampshire and across the country are not getting the treatment they desperately need. New Hampshire needs much more than token gestures from Congress. It’s long past time to provide emergency funding to both treatment providers and first responders, and I hope that President-elect Trump will follow through on his promise to the citizens of New Hampshire and the country to tackle this crisis head-on.”

Among the Surgeon General’s key findings:

• 27 million Americans report use of illicit drugs or misuse of prescription drugs;
• Only 10% of Americans with substance use disorders receive any type of treatment;
• 40% of Americans with a substance use disorder have a mental health condition;
• Nearly 21 million Americans were affected by substance use disorders in 2015 —that number is more than 1.5 times the annual prevalence of all cancers combined (14 million).

Shaheen continues to lead the effort in Congress to pass emergency supplemental funding for those on the frontlines of the opioid addiction crisis. Her legislation would provide immediate supplemental appropriations totaling $600 million to states through programs administered by the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services that focus on treatment and recovery, as well as state and local law enforcement initiatives. Shaheen was a co-sponsor of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) and has repeatedly called on the Republican-led congress to fund CARA.