Concerns over the allocation of opioid abatement funds took center stage during the New Hampshire Senate Finance meeting on April 25, 2025. Lawmakers expressed alarm over recent changes made by the House regarding House Bill 2, which shifted funding priorities that could significantly impact substance use treatment services across the state.

Senator raised critical questions about the House's decision to remove liquor funds from the governor's commission and replace them with opioid abatement funds. He highlighted two major issues stemming from this shift: a drastic cut in funding for substance use treatment services and the restriction of opioid funds solely for opioid-related programs, leaving no resources for addressing alcohol, meth, or cocaine treatment.

The deputy attorney general, who also chairs the opioid abatement commission, confirmed the senator's concerns. He noted that the changes would indeed halve the state's commitment to substance use disorder treatment and create complications due to the legal restrictions on how opioid abatement funds can be utilized. According to the terms of the settlements that provide these funds, a significant majority—95.5%—must be directed exclusively to opioid abatement projects, limiting the state's ability to address broader substance use issues.

The discussion underscored the urgent need for a reevaluation of funding strategies to ensure comprehensive support for all substance use disorders, not just those related to opioids. As the meeting concluded, the implications of these funding decisions loomed large, with lawmakers and advocates alike calling for a more inclusive approach to substance use treatment in New Hampshire.