NH Delegation Announce $1 Million Award to Curtail the Supply of Opioids into NH

U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, which funds the Department of Justice (DOJ), announced with U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) that the New Hampshire Department of Safety will receive a $1 million Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) award. Specifically, the funding is provided by the DOJ Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program and was awarded to the New Hampshire Department of Safety to help strengthen the New Hampshire State Police’s continued efforts to investigate, interdict and curtail the supply of opioids into New Hampshire.

“Drug overdoses continue to devastate families across our state. Our law enforcement officers deserve access to all the tools they need to address this issue as they work to investigate drug trafficking and other illicit activities,” said Senator Shaheen. “I supported this federal funding so New Hampshire can better identify and dismantle the criminal networks that distribute these substances in our communities and help keep our families safe and healthy.”

“As the opioid epidemic continues to devastate New Hampshire communities, we must give law enforcement the tools that they need to stop criminals who are fueling this crisis,” said Senator Hassan. “I am glad to see this federal investment in keeping our communities safe, and I will continue working to help stem the flow of fentanyl and other dangerous drugs into our communities.”

“Every life lost to overdose is a tragedy — we must use every resource at our disposal to end the substance use disorder epidemic and save lives,” said Congresswoman Kuster, founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force. “These critical resources heading to our state will help law enforcement agencies stop the flow of these dangerous drugs into our communities, hold illegal distributors accountable, and save lives across New Hampshire.”

“We must continue to support a robust and sustained response to the ongoing substance abuse crisis," said Congressman Pappas. "These funds will ensure our law enforcement officials have the resources they need to halt the distribution of opioids, something that continues to be an urgent priority of mine in Congress. I'll keep fighting to ensure New Hampshire can combat drug trafficking and comprehensively address the addiction crisis."