Ayotte Statement on CDC Report Showing Rise in Heroin-Related Deaths in New Hampshire
Press Release
U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) released the following statement today regarding the release of a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that shows New Hampshire had a significant increase in heroin-related deaths between 2010 and 2012. Ayotte recently helped introduce bipartisan legislation - The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act - that would provide a series of incentives and resources designed to encourage states and local communities to implement proven strategies to combat addiction.
"I recently had the opportunity to witness first-hand what New Hampshire's first responders are experiencing on the front lines of the heroin crisis, and today's report further underscores the challenges our state is facing in reversing this deadly trend," said Senator Ayotte. "We need to ensure that first responders, law enforcement, and health care and treatment providers in New Hampshire have the tools they need to save lives. Based on their input, I recently helped introduce bipartisan legislation that would increase drug abuse prevention efforts, improve treatment for those struggling with addiction, ensure law enforcement has greater access to tools to fight drug abuse, and develop best practices for treatment, intervention, and pain management nationwide."
The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2014 would expand opioid abuse prevention and educational efforts, make naloxone more available to law enforcement agencies and other first responders, expand disposal sites for unwanted or unused prescription drugs, and strengthen prescription drug monitoring programs.
Additionally, earlier this month, the Senate unanimously passed Senator Ayotte's bipartisan resolution designating the month of October as "National Prescription Opioid and Heroin Abuse Awareness Month." The legislation calls for greater attention to the public health hazards of prescription painkiller abuse and heroin use.
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