Today, Rep. Annie Kuster (NH-02), the founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Opioid Task Force, and Rep. Chris Pappas (NH-01) applauded the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Award of $28 Million in State Opioid Response (SOR) grants to help provide substance use disorder treatment throughout New Hampshire. Friday’s grant  announcement from SAMHSA was joined by an announcement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that it will be awarding $700,000 in federal funding to bolster efforts to combat and mitigate the substance use disorder epidemic in New Hampshire. This funding includes $500,000 in Drug Free Communities (DFC) grants to four Granite State drug prevention coalitions, and $200,000 through the Rural Communities Opioid Response program to Communities for Alcohol and Drug-Free Youth (CADY) in Plymouth. 

“As New Hampshire communities continue working to slow the spread of COVID-19 and keep Granite Staters safe, it is critical that we also address another health crisis: the ongoing opioid epidemic,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “For those who struggle with substance use disorder, physical distancing – while necessary to save lives during this pandemic – has made it more difficult to access the care and support they need. This funding from SAMHSA and HHS will provide crucial assistance during these unprecedented times and help people overcome addiction so they can move forward and reclaim their lives. I will continue working to support those who are living with substance use disorder during this pandemic and beyond.”

“Our families, friends, and neighbors have all been touched by the addiction epidemic in profound ways. That is why securing additional federal support for comprehensive addiction services has been one of my top priorities since entering Congress.” said Congressman Pappas. “In the midst of these challenging times, these federal grants will play an instrumental role in saving lives and confronting this epidemic with increased investments in our prevention, treatment, and long-term recovery programs.” 

Rep. Kuster is the co-chair and founder of the Bipartisan Opioid Task Force and has stayed in close contact with addiction treatment and mental health care providers. In June, she and her co-chairs held a virtual roundtable discussion on how to address the dual crises of the COVID-19 pandemic and the opioid epidemic. The Bipartisan Opioid Task Force announced its 2020 Legislative Agenda earlier this year. At the beginning of April, Rep. Kuster sent a letter to New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, urging him to work to ensure that Granite Staters struggling with substance use disorder (SUD) can get the care and support they need during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In July, the House passed a key appropriations package that included $412 million for grant programs authorized under the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, which is a $34 million increase from the last fiscal year. 

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