New Hampshire Senate Revives Drug Overdose Fatality Review Commission
Contact Name: Sara Persechino
Phone: (603) 271-3479
Email: Sara.Persechino@leg.state.nh.us
CONCORD - Today, the Senate passed SB 744 on consent, Senate President Donna Soucy’s bill to establish the New Hampshire drug overdose fatality review commission. SB 744 revives a commission originally established by an Executive Order issued by then Governor Maggie Hassan. This bill will assist in the continued fight against the opioid epidemic that has resulted in the deaths of thousands of New Hampshire residents. The commission will review information and data related to drug overdose fatalities in New Hampshire in order to inform comprehensive policy development to fight overdose fatalities.
After the vote, prime sponsor Senate President Donna Soucy (D-Manchester) issued the following statement:
“Combating New Hampshire’s opioid crisis continues to be a bipartisan priority. Thankfully, the number of deaths by drug overdose has begun to decrease since the record numbers of 2017 but the work is far from over. We have increased state funding for substance use disorder treatment and enacted legislation aimed at ending the opioid epidemic. By reestablishing this committee originally ordered by then Governor Maggie Hassan we are able to gain a clearer picture of what works, and how we can expand treatment and recovery options. I thank my Senate colleagues for their continued dedication to this work.”
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