Shaheen Welcomes Additional Public and Private Efforts Announced by the President to Address Heroin Epidemic

**$7 million for Shaheen-established COPS Anti-Heroin Task Force Program**

**$11 million for States to purchase and distribute overdose reversal drugs such as Narcan**

**More than 60 medical schools will now require students to take prescriber education**

(Manchester, NH) – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) welcomed the additional public and private sector efforts just announced by the President, to address the opioid pandemic. The measures include an additional $7 million for Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Grants, a program which Senator Shaheen was instrumental in establishing as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. It was also announced that more than sixty medical schools will now require prescriber education in their curriculum that’s in line with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for prescribing opioids for chronic pain.

“The measures announced today are desperately needed,” said Shaheen. “In New Hampshire we’re losing a life a day and the federal government needs to be working hand-in-hand with state and local governments and institutions to help stem the tide of this crisis,” said Shaheen. “Our first responders need additional resources right now, and these actions are a step in the right direction. The cooperation of the medical community in working toward more responsible prescribing practices for opioids is critical in slowing the growth of the addiction crisis. New Hampshire needs more support like this from the federal government which is why I will continue to lead the effort in Congress to get emergency funding to those on the frontlines of the crisis.”

Shaheen has aggressively pushed for additional resources to help states address the opioid addiction epidemic and will continue to look for opportunities to advance her emergency supplemental funding legislation.

Details of today’s announcement can be found here.