Shea-Porter Statement on 2017 CDC Drug Overdose Report

Statement

Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) today released the following statement on the 2017 CDC drug overdose report:

"It is a promising sign that New Hampshire's drug overdose rate did not increase last year, but our state and our country have a long way to go to turn the tide in this deadly crisis. We are losing far too many Granite Staters to drug overdoses. The federal government has to step up and help our state by providing the resources and support that the severity of this crisis demands. The health care workers, first responders, community leaders, and social workers on the front lines of the opioid epidemic are doing a tremendous job, but they need more help. I hope that the next Congress will significantly increase federal funding to combat the opioid crisis and that the White House will finally give this issue the attention it needs instead of trying to rip health care away from those who need it, especially those trying to access treatment. We cannot end this crisis by attacking health care the way this administration has done and continues to do. These attacks threaten to reverse the progress we have made and will have a devastating impact on all those working to stop drug overdoses and to make our communities healthier and more prosperous."

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