Bipartisan Task Force to Combat the Heroin Epidemic Comes to NH

MANCHESTER, NH – Next Monday, U.S. Reps. Frank Guinta, R-NH, and Ann McLane Kuster, D-NH, will bring the task force they co-founded, the Bipartisan Task Force to Combat the Heroin Epidemic, to Manchester for a field hearing in New Hampshire, according to a press statement.

The topic of the hearing - “Investigating the Heroin Epidemic and Its Impacts on the Northeast” - will focus on treatment and law enforcement strategies to end New England’s drug epidemic, the number-one issue in New Hampshire.

U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin, R-ME, will join Guinta and Kuster, where they will hear from witnesses about treatment programs, criminal justice, and advocacy efforts. They will also present the legislative agenda that their Task Force plans to announce this week – a package of 15 bills they deem most likely to gather support in Congress and to help their districts overcome a growing public health crisis.

The signing in will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, April 25, 2016, at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics, 100 Saint Anselm Drive in Manchester, and the hearing will start at 9 a.m.

The hearing will feature three sections with the following topics and panelists:

Protecting our Communities: Policing in a Public Health Crisis

• Chief Deputy Michael Crabtree - Washington County (ME) Sheriff Department
• Jay Fallon - Executive Director, New England High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area
• James Vara - Senior Director of Substance Misuse and Behavioral Health, Office of Gov. Hassan
• Chief Nick Willard - Manchester Police Department

Treating Addiction: Supporting Long-term Health and Recovery

• Alexandra Hamel - Director of Residential Services, Keystone Hall
• Patricia Kimball - Executive Director, Wellspring
• Chief Justice Tina Nadeau - New Hampshire Superior Court
• Dr. Seddon Savage - Clinician, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

Turning the Tide Together: Prevention, Intervention, and Advocacy

• Traci Fowler - Chair, New Hampshire Prevention Task Force
• Vicki Hebert - Coalition Coordinator, Dover Youth 2 Youth
• Abi Lizotte - Seacoast Anti-Heroin Advocate
• Donna Marston - Founder, Families Sharing without Shame

This event is open to the public.