**Kuster urged the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to quickly release funding to New Hampshire**

**$22.9 million awarded from SAMHSA, $3.6 million awarded from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and an additional $3.6 million awarded from Health Resources & Services Administration**

(Concord, NH) – Today, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced that it has approved New Hampshire’s application for $22.9 million in funding for Fiscal Year 2018 to combat the opioid epidemic. Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02), the founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Heroin and Opioid Task Force, has been vocal about the need for SAMHSA to prioritize funding to states such as New Hampshire that have been particularly hard hit by the opioid epidemic. Last month, Kuster called on SAMHSA to approve funding requested by New Hampshire. Further, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded New Hampshire’s Division of Public Health Services $3.6 million to support efforts to prevent opioid-related overdoses and related outcomes. Additionally, the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) has announced $3.6 million in funding to provide access points throughout New Hampshire.

“The people on the frontlines of the opioid epidemic in New Hampshire are doing incredible work to stem this crisis but they need more support,” said Kuster. “This funding will bolster the innovative work being done by first responders and healthcare providers across our state to help individuals struggling with substance misuse. I urge Governor Sununu to work with our leaders addressing the opioid epidemic to ensure that state efforts complement existing programs that are making a real, positive impact in New Hampshire. I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to bolster treatment, long-term recovery, law enforcement, and prevention.”

Specific programs receiving funding from HRSA:

• $285,500: Ammonoosuc Community Health Services, Inc., Littleton, NH.
• $285,250: Coos County Family Health Services, Inc., Berlin, NH   
• $350,250: Harbor Homes, Inc., Nashua, NH
• $486,750: Health First Family Care Center, Inc., Franklin, NH                        
• $500,500: Mid-State Health Center, Plymouth, NH           
• $424,287: Greater Seacoast Community Health, Somersworth, NH
• $285,000: Lamprey Health Care, Newmarket, NH             
• $518,000: Manchester Community Health Center, Manchester, NH         
• $276,720: City of Manchester, New Hampshire   Manchester, NH
• $450,000: North Country Health Consortium Littleton, NH

Kuster has pushed for increased funding for New Hampshire to address the opioid epidemic and helped secure $22.9 million in additional funding for the state. Kuster has worked to pass comprehensive bipartisan legislation to combat the opioid crisis that is currently being reconciled between the House and Senate. Earlier this year, Kuster introduced the Respond NOW Act, which would provide critical resources to those on the frontlines of the opioid epidemic. The Bipartisan Heroin and Opioid Task Force has been a driver of Congressional action to take on the opioid crisis. The Task Force successfully pushed for the inclusion of $1 billion in funding as part of the 21st Century Cures Act to address the opioid epidemic and helped advance $6 billion in new opioid funding as part of the FY 2018 government funding bill. Last Congress, 14 Task Force bills were signed into law as part of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA).

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