NH Task Force Created to Tackle Heroin Epidemic

Legislative leaders agreed on Nov. 18, 2015, to create a task force to take on the opioid and heroin crisis currently facing the Granite State.

The Task Force will be made up of legislators who will meet over the next few weeks as a whole and in smaller subgroups to quickly and thoroughly review proposed substance abuse initiatives. Any recommendations made by the board will be analyzed by the Legislature in January.

Republicans in the House and Senate commended the deal. Democrats, however, who were hoping for approval of a number of proposals by Gov. Maggie Hassan, said they were pleased that Republicans agreed to fast track the task force’s mission.

“We are committed to combating the war on heroin in our State and the Task Force created today provides a venue for legislators to address these issues in a thoughtful and expedited manner,” said Senate President Chuck Morse, R-Salem.

Added Senate Majority Jeb Bradley, R-Wolfeboro, “We’ve heard the public outcry for action on the tragic substance abuse crisis in our state. Today’s vote by the legislature will allow us to act promptly in addressing a number of issues that will help curb the devastating crisis touching each of our communities.”

The task force will be made up on 26 House and Senate members.

“This Task Force will allow us the time to work on these bills appropriately but in an expedited manner to combat this crisis,” said House Speaker Shawn Jasper. “It will allow legislative action to be taken in an open and transparent process in order to vet all proposals. House and Senate members have continuously heard from local leaders related to how this crisis is affecting their communities. We know that a process without their input could result in less effective results and create more problems. We believe this is the most effective way to come up with a solution which benefits the citizens of New Hampshire.”

Majority Leader Richard Hinch, R-Merrimack, said house leaders believe it was the best approach.

“By assembling this group of legislators who are experts in their respective policy areas, and putting together a process by which they work with external stakeholders, we believe we have a better chance of not just having good legislation, but having the best legislation we can, given what we know at this time,” he said. “This is an evolving issue that the legislature is prepared to deal with throughout the coming months. This Task Force will be on the front lines of the legislative process, and their work will help our state respond in a swift, but measured manner.”

Senate Minority Leader Jeff Woodburn stated that while Senate Democrats would have preferred that the legislature take action on legislation at today’s special session, “we appreciate that the Republican majorities in the House and Senate have agreed to move faster than was originally proposed … The people of New Hampshire have been calling for action to combat the heroin and opioid crisis facing our state.”

Hassan agreed.

“With Granite Staters dying nearly every day from the heroin and opioid crisis, we know that we must work with a sense of urgency in order to strengthen our efforts to combat this epidemic and save lives,” said Hassan. “I have put forward a comprehensive proposal to give patients, providers, parents and law enforcement better tools in the fight against substance abuse, much of which has broad, bipartisan support. While I believe that there are certain steps, such as cracking down on fentanyl, that we can take immediately, I am encouraged that the legislature has established its joint, bipartisan task force and has committed to getting expedited legislation to my desk in January. There is no reason to wait to take these common-sense steps, and I will continue working with the legislature and stakeholders from all sectors on comprehensive, bipartisan action to support law enforcement, improve prevention, treatment, and recovery, and strengthen our efforts to help save lives and combat the most pressing public health and safety challenge facing our state.”

The board is expected to address issues including:

• The current criminal penalties for the possession and distribution of fentanyl;
• Requiring insurance companies to use the same evaluation criteria for substance abuse treatment and removing prior authorization requirements;
• Mandating greater use of the state’s prescription drug monitoring program and upgrading its technology;
• Continuing medical education relating to prescribing schedule II, III and IV drugs;
• Providing a statewide drug court grant program
• Expanding the reach of State Police’s new mobile enforcement team

The task force’s first meeting will be on Nov. 24.