Governor Chris Sununu told the state’s Commission on Alcohol and Drugs Friday that workforce development and cutting regulation are key in addressing New Hampshire’s opioid crisis.
This is the first time Sununu has attended one of these meetings since taking office.
Although Sununu agreed more treatment services was crucial, he stressed that the state needs to make sure it has enough qualified workers to provide such care. He also stressed the need to cut regulations for providers who wish to offer or expand care for people struggling with addiction.
“I hear a lot of stories and I don’t know if they're true of other states breaking down regulatory barriers, permitting barriers, getting beds open faster than we do. What do we have in our way that other states don’t have in their way?,” Sununu asked the commission both on the state and federal level.
The New Hampshire House’s version of the new state budget includes about $12 million for the commission to spend toward substance abuse treatment.
The Governor proposed a similar figure in his budget plan in February, but on Friday said he now thinks that number should be higher.
