N.H. Senate Votes Against Legalizing Needle Exchange
Other New England states have needle exchanges, but New Hampshire lawmakers decided instead to create a commission to study the option. Media outlets in Florida and Missouri offer coverage of the opioid crisis, as well.
The Concord Monitor:
Senate Says No To Needle Exchange
The state Senate voted Thursday not to legalize needle exchanges in New Hampshire, and instead opted to study the issue over the summer and take action next year. “There are a lot of unanswered questions here,” said Sen. Sharon Carson, a Londonderry Republican. “There is no one size fits all solution.” (Morris, 5/5)
New Hampshire Public Radio:
N.H. Senate: Needle Exchange Proposal Needs More Work
New Hampshire Senators have voted to create a study commission to look at needle exchange programs rather than legalizing them. The proposal now heads back to the House, which if left unchanged, will then head to the Governor. (Sutherland, 5/5)
The Concord Monitor:
Concord Okays Addiction Recovery Center
An addiction recovery center will open in Concord. The city’s zoning board unanimously granted Hope for New Hampshire Recovery permission to operate at 85 S. State St. In response to concerns from neighbors, the board also set restricted operating hours between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. By way of introduction before the board Wednesday night, Cheryl Coletti-Lawson, chairwoman at Hope for New Hampshire Recovery, told a piece of her own story. She herself is in long-term recovery. (Doyle, 5/5)
St. Louis Public Radio:
City Of St. Louis Could Green Light Regional Prescription Drug Database
The city of St. Louis is one step closer to joining St. Louis County in creating a regional prescription drug database doctors can check to see if their patients have already been prescribed narcotics recently. (Phillips, 5/5)
The Orlando Sentinel:
Orange, Osceola Top In State For Fentanyl, Heroin Deaths
Fentanyl, a prescription opioid that has heroin-like effects, killed more people in Orange and Osceola counties than any other region in Florida during the first half of 2015, according to a state report. (Miller, 5/5)
And, in the U.S. House of Representatives, Democrats call for more funding to address the epidemic, in an echo of their request from earlier in the year —
The Hill:
House Dems Call For $600 Million To Fight Opioid Abuse
A group of 53 House Democrats is calling on Republicans to approve $600 million in new funding to fight opioid abuse as part of a package of bills coming to the floor. Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) led the letter to Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) saying that emergency funding is needed in addition to a range of bills aimed at fighting opioid abuse that are expected to be voted on next week. (Sullivan, 5/5)
