(Concord, NH) – Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02), the founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force, released the following statement on a report by New Futures that found the cost of substance misuse to New Hampshire was $2.36 billion in 2014. The report also highlights the importance of the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid expansion to increasing access to treatment in the Granite State.

“This report underscores that the reach of the substance use crisis goes well beyond the tragic human toll we are all too familiar with,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “The impact of the opioid epidemic, as well as alcohol abuse, is costing our state billions of dollars and we need to tackle this crisis on behalf of the wellbeing of Granite Staters as well as our economic competitiveness. In 2014, opioids accounted for over one-half of admissions to treatment programs in the state; opioids now account for more treatment in the state than alcohol misuse. What is abundantly clear from this report is that efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid expansion will have a detrimental impact on our ability to get those seeking treatment the recovery services they need. I’m disappointed that last week Republicans in the House chose to jam through their misguided American Health Care Act, which would reduce treatment and recovery services for substance misuse.”

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