Shaheen Attends DEA New England Laboratory Groundbreaking, Will Aid Efforts to Combat the Substance Use Disorder Epidemic

(Londonderry, NH) – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chair of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee, joined U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Principal Deputy Administrator George Papadopoulos and local law enforcement officials for a groundbreaking ceremony at the new DEA New England laboratory site in Londonderry. The new lab will aid law enforcement efforts to combat the substance use disorder epidemic and curb drug related deaths in New Hampshire and throughout the region. Photos from the event can be found here.

“The new DEA lab in Londonderry will help law enforcement efforts to keep our streets safe and drug free by providing the capabilities to analyze unidentified substances right here in New Hampshire,” said Senator Shaheen. “Far too many Granite State families have been impacted by the drug epidemic. I was pleased to join law enforcement and members of the community at today’s groundbreaking, and I’ll continue to pursue every avenue available to end this crisis and keep Americans safe.”

As Chair of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the Department of Justice, Senator Shaheen has led efforts to address the substance use disorder epidemic. In the fiscal year (FY) 2021 government funding legislation, Shaheen secured $50 million for the construction of a DEA Laboratory in New England. The new Lab will allow DEA to identify and process unidentified substances acquired in New England, reducing wait times and allowing the agency to conduct investigations more efficiently. The project is also estimated to create 56 jobs in New Hampshire.

Senator Shaheen has long championed efforts to combat the substance use disorder epidemic and curb drug related deaths through every possible avenue. Last month, Shaheen applauded a new Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) rule that will implement her NOPAIN Act to help address the opioid crisis by increasing access to non-opioid pain management. Earlier this year, she led the state’s Congressional delegation in fighting for $29,880,604 in State Opioid Response (SOR) grants directed to New Hampshire. The increased funding followed the passage of Shaheen-led legislation, the State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act, which increased funding and provided critical flexibilities for states administering SOR spending. In recent years, Shaheen successfully pushed the Department of Health and Human Services to maintain SOR funding levels for New Hampshire and avoid significant cliffs in funding year-over-year. Shaheen's efforts have led to a more than tenfold increase in federal treatment and prevention funding for New Hampshire.  

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