The New Hampshire Senate unanimously passed a bill to put more money towards combating the state’s drug crisis. The measure now heads to the House.
The bill would send$4.5 million to the Governor’s Commission on Drugs and Alcohol, for prevention and treatment.
It also includes additional money for peer recovery services as well as supportive housing for those with substance abuse disorders.
Although the measure had bipartisan support, Democratic lawmakers say with the state’s roughly $60 million surplus it should have included more money.
But Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley argued it would be irresponsible to spend the surplus all at once.
“There are a lot of things that are potentially out there that may well have a discussion. This gets money to programs that need the money in the fastest possible way,” Bradley told his colleagues on the floor.
The Senate also backed a bill Thursday creating a grant program to teach heroin and opiate prevention in high schools. As well lawmakers passed a bill creating a study commission on long-term peer-to-peer recovery services in the state. Both measures now head to the House.
