NASHUA – Nearly $23 million to aid in the battle against opioids is on the way to New Hampshire via the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

This amount is substantially more than the $3.1 million the Granite State received from the same program last year, according to members of New Hampshire’s congressional delegation. This administration is a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

“This significant increase in funding for treatment is long overdue and will undoubtedly help save lives across our state,” Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., said. “Far too many Granite Staters are suffering because they can’t get the treatment they desperately need as demand far outweighs supply. I applaud leadership at the Department of Health and Human Services and SAMHSA for working with me and the New Hampshire delegation to prioritize funding for our state.”

“It has long been clear that we need significantly more funding to combat the opioid crisis, and this announcement is an important next step in our efforts to help save lives and support those on the front lines of this devastating epidemic,” Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., added. “While this increased funding is critical, we also know that it will ultimately take far more funding to truly turn the tide of this deadly epidemic, and I will keep working with the New Hampshire delegation and members of both parties to get our state the federal support we need.”

As members of the Common Sense Caucus, Shaheen and Hassan helped secure an additional $6 billion to combat the opioid crisis in the budget deal signed into law in February, and helped ensure that a dedicated portion of that funding would be set aside specifically for states hardest hit by the opioid crisis.

In the U.S. House, Reps. Annie Kuster and Carol Shea-Porter, both D-N.H., also said the additional funds are critical in the battle against opioids.

“To date federal funding to combat the opioid epidemic has not reflected the scope of the crisis in the Granite State,” Kuster said. “This increased funding that our delegation has fought for will enable those on the front lines of the crisis to strengthen their critical work that continues to save lives every day. But our job is not done and I will continue to advocate strongly for the funding and policy changes that will help us end this crisis.”

“We have known for a long time that New Hampshire has needed a significant increase in federal funding,” Shea-Porter added. “I am grateful that our New Hampshire delegation’s hard work secured this increase. We will still need more funding, but now we are moving in the right direction.”