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Partisan battles over heroin in NH

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In a recent WMUR Granite State Poll, four out of five adults said heroin abuse is a “very serious” problem in New Hampshire.

Heroin abuse has also become a battleground for Democrats and Republicans in New Hampshire.

The New Hampshire Republican Party has published several press releases criticizing Gov. Maggie Hassan's "drug czar" Jack Wozmak for failing to reach out to local officials, such as Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas.

Wozmak, who began work in February, met with Gatsas on July 20. This week Wozmak also released twenty-two recommendations for fighting the heroin epidemic. Some of those recommendations - such as increasing access to the overdose-reversing drug Narcan - are already in the works.

Republicans have also criticized Gov. Hassan for vetoing the legislature's state budget proposal, which included increased funding for substance abuse treatment.

Gov. Hassan maintains that she vetoed the budget because the business tax cuts it included would create a budget deficit.

Gov. Hassan is in turn urging Republican legislators to renew expanded Medicaid eligibility, which includes substance abuse treatment. Expanded Medicaid is set to expire December 31, 2016 in New Hampshire.

"One of the most important things we can do - the most important thing we can do - is reauthorize Medicaid expansion, because that brings hundreds of millions of dollars into the state of New Hampshire, and included in that is coverage for substance abuse," said Gov. Hassan.

Given that Medicaid is currently the largest single item in New Hampshire's budget, many Republicans maintain that New Hampshire simply cannot afford the increased caseload associated with expanded Medicaid eligibility.

CLICK HERE to read Wozmak's twenty-two recommendations for fighting heroin abuse in the Granite State.

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