Today started with a brief meeting at Senator Jeanne Shaheen’s office with Alison MacDonald, Senior Policy Advisor. We expressed thanks for Sen. Shaheen’s cosponsoring of various substance abuse related legislation as well her presence in NH at round table discussions about the opiate epidemic. We told her that NAADAC is dispensing materials to other members of Congress including the legislation she is co-sponsoring.
From Sen. Shaheen’s office we then went to Senator Kelly Ayotte’s office. We met directly with Sen. Ayotte who shared a significant interest in the substance abuse problem in New Hampshire. She expressed an interest in recovery and personal stories as they affect children. She invited one of our group to share about their personal story and the struggles and stigma attached to addiction recovery. We discussed her Mental Health First Aid Act, for which she is a lead sponsor. This act would fund mental health first aid programs around the country. Participants will be trained in recognizing the signs and symptoms of common substance use disorders and mental illnesses, deescalating crisis situations safely, and initiating timely referral to mental health and substance use treatment resources available in the community. We discussed the need for MLADCs and LCMHCs to be able to be recognized for reimbursement in both the VA and Medicaid systems. We also discussed workforce development coupled with the need for additional treatment programs/beds, the shortage of substance abuse counselors and the avenue of assisting mental health practitioners to feel competent and confident with their knowledge of treating substance use disorders.
Next was meeting with Congresswomen Ann McLane Kuster. Representative Kuster was also passionate about the substance use problems in New Hampshire. She asked questions about the access to residential treatment and the number of treatment beds in our State. She stated that she and Congressman Frank Guinta would be announcing the formation of The Bipartisan Task Force to Combat the Heroin Epidemic. The “Stop the Overdose Program Already Becoming a Universal Substance Epidemic” (STOP ABUSE ACT), is a bill that includes a comprehensive approach to treating and stopping the heroin epidemic that is striking so many states and communities across the country. The bill creates an interagency task force to develop best practices for preventing and treating heroin addiction. It also reauthorizes critical assistance to states and localities to address the crisis in innovative ways and provides liability protection for trained individuals providing overdose treatments in good faith. The conversation continued with Representative Guinta in that he invited us to watch both he and Representative Kuster sign this legislation.
While meeting with Representative Guinta, he also asked questions about the Alcohol Fund and funding resources related to substance abuse treatment and prevention. He also asked about what grants are being funded in New Hampshire. Representative Guinta invited us to walk with him to the Capitol Building so that our conversations could continue.
We walked away from the visits very optimistic and with renewed encouragement for the involvement of our New Hampshire Delegation in substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery issues. We were very appreciative of the manner in which they went out of their way in extending their hospitality to meet with us. We look forward to continued partnership and collaboration as a resource to them in providing education and information on these issues affecting New Hampshire.