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N.H. Wins Grant to Expand Access to Substance Abuse Medication

New Hampshire is one of nearly a dozen states getting a one million dollar federal grant to expand access to medication-assisted treatment for drug addiction.

 
New Hampshire currently has the fewest number of physicians in New England who are certified to prescribe Suboxone, a drug used to reduce opioid cravings and ease withdrawals.

Recently the federal government raised the number of patients doctors are allowed to treat with Suboxone from 100 to 275.
 
And now federal health officials are giving states like New Hampshire money to coordinate services for patients in high-risk areas like Manchester and Nashua who could benefit from Suboxone.

According to a press release, these dollars will specifically go to Manchester Community Health Center and Harbor Homes Harborcare Health and Wellness Center.

Growing the capacity of medication assisted treatment was one of the top recommendations for dealing with the opioid crisis,released last week by newly appointed state drug czar, James Vara. 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is also giving N.H. $250,000 to better use and collect data on drug overdoses.

Last year more than 440 people in the Granite State died from a drug overdose. That number is expected to exceed 500 this year.

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