**Legislation would increase availability of treatment for substance use disorder**

**The Turn the Tide Act would provide $63 billion in funding over ten years**

Today Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02), the founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Opioid Task Force, introduced the Turn the Tide Act in the House of Representatives. This legislation would provide $63 billion in flexible funding over ten years to support long-term efforts to address the opioid epidemic in New Hampshire and across the country. The Turn the Tide Act, originally introduced in the Senate by U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), would support efforts to address workforce shortages in the treatment field, bolster effective prevention programs, and provide funding to treatment providers.

“The opioid and substance use epidemic has had a devastating impact on families and communities throughout New Hampshire,” said Kuster. “We’ve made progress in directing more resources to our state to support treatment and recovery services, bolster prevention efforts, and strengthen law enforcement, but more work remains. We can’t take our eye off the ball and this legislation represents a commitment to seeing this crisis through to the end. I’ve heard from law enforcement and treatment providers about the evolving nature of this crisis and the rise of synthetic opioids and methamphetamines. The Turn the Tide Act will ensure flexibility as we combat all substance use disorder.”

“Combating the substance use epidemic demands a response from Congress that begins to match the severity of this crisis and adapts to trends that first responders are seeing in their communities,” said Shaheen. “The sad truth is that most individuals who need treatment in New Hampshire and across the country still can’t get access, which is why my legislation, the Turn the Tide Act, provides a substantial investment in recovery efforts. As methamphetamines and cocaine use become more prevalent, treatment providers must be allowed to use federal funds to treat Granite Staters who are suffering, which is why this bill also provides needed flexibility for federal funding. I’m glad the Turn the Tide Act is now a bicameral effort and I’ll continue to push leaders on both sides of the aisle to help move this legislation through Congress.”

The New Hampshire delegation has successfully advocated for increased funding to help combat the opioid epidemic and recently announced the award of over $26.6 million in federal funding to New Hampshire. Thanks to the delegation’s efforts, New Hampshire will receive a total of nearly $35 million in State Opioid Response (SOR) grants in FY 2019, more than a ten-fold increase compared to FY 2017. New Hampshire will use the SOR grant dollars to increase access to substance use disorder treatment and recovery supports, and enhance efforts to prevent substance misuse.

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