NH Opioid Abatement Trust Fund & Advisory Commission

Information about the NH Opioid Abatement Trust Fund & Advisory Commission, including meeting information and resources.

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Next Meeting: Monday, June 9, 2025, at 1:00 p.m.

Next Meeting: Monday, June 9, 2025, at 1:00 p.m.

Department of Justice, 1 Granite Place South, Concord, NH 

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Meeting ID: 279 737 604 573 
Passcode: zKPHQY 

Dial in by phone: +1 603-931-4944,,211153182# United States, Concord 
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Phone conference ID: 211 153 182# 

House Bill 1639 established an opioid abatement trust fund and the advisory commission that will oversee it. DHHS, in consultation with this commission, shall use the fund to support programs associated with the prevention, treatment, and recovery of substance use disorders.

In-Person Forum Flyer

 

Your Voice Matters!

The Governor's Commission on Alcohol and Other Drugs will be holding In-person Forums for the public to comment as a part of the State Action Plan: 

  • Tuesday April 15th, 4:00pm-6:00pm
    NH Technical Institute (NHTI)
    Sweeney Hall 122
    4 Institute Drive
    Concord, NH, 03301
  • Wednesday April 16th, 4:00pm- 6:00pm
    Forest Society North at The Rocks
    Jane Difley Classroom
    113 Glessner Rd
    Bethlehem, NH, 03574

Frequently Asked Questions about the Trust Fund and Commission

What does ‘opioid abatement’ mean?

Opioid abatement refers to efforts to reduce or fix the harm caused by the opioid crisis. It includes using opioid settlement funds and/or other resources to support treatment, prevention, recovery, and other programs that help people who have been negatively affected by opioids. The goal is to increase access to treatment throughout the state, improve public health, prevent future opioid use disorders (OUDs) and other substance use disorders (SUDs), and support healing for individuals, families and communities. 

What is the Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission?

The Commission was created in 2020 to receive funds from a number of settlements between the New Hampshire Attorney General and opioid manufacturers, distributors, and major pharmacy chains.

The Attorney General has settled with the following companies:

  • McKesson
  • Cardinal Health
  • Amerisource Bergen
  • Jansen – Johnson & Johnson
  • Mallinckrodt
  • CVS
  • Walgreens
  • Walmart
  • Teva
  • Allergan
  • Endo
  • Publicis Health
  • McKinsey

Each settlement has its own terms, amounts, and payment schedules.  Payments are expected to be received every year for the next 15 years.

The state passed a law in 2020 that created a special fund to hold this money and set rules on how it can be used to help communities affected by opioids. This state law is: NH RSA 126-A:83 – 86.  The Commission serves in an advisory capacity and makes recommendations for how to spend settlement funds on opioid abatement projects to the Governor and Executive Council. 

Who is on the Commission?

The members of the commission are set by statute (NH RSA 126-A:85) and include the following:

  • Governor's designee: David Mara
  • State Treasurer's designee: Rachel Miller
  • Commissioner of Department of Corrections: Commissioner Helen Hanks
  • Commissioner of Health and Human Services’ designee: Jennifer Sabin
  • One member of the House appointed by the Speaker of the House: Representative David Nagel
  • One member of the Senate appointed by the Senate President: Senator David Rochefort
  • Chairperson of the Governor’s Commission on Alcohol and Other Drugs: Patrick Tufts
  • A county attorney appointed by the Governor: Patricia Conway
  • A county corrections superintendent appointed by the Governor: Jason Henry
  • A county nursing home supervisor appointed by the Governor: Kathryn Kindopp
  • A NH municipal fire chief appointed by the Governor: Chief James Watkins
  • A NH municipal police chief appointed by the Governor: Kevin Rourke
  • One designee from a county with a population of 100,000 or more, appointed by the Governor: County Commissioner Toni Pappas
  • One designee from a county with a population of less than 100,000, appointed by the Governor: County Commissioner Peter Spanos
  • One designee of a city with a population over 75,000, appointed by the Governor: Bobbie Bagley
  • One designee of a city or town with a population under 75,000, appointed by the Governor: Elizabeth Dragon
  • One designee representing a town with a population under 20,000, appointed by the Governor: Chief Paul Smith
  • One designee representing victims of the opioid crisis, appointed by the Attorney General: Doug Griffin
  • One member representing prevention appointed by the Governor’s Commission on Alcohol and Other Drugs: Traci Fowler
  • One member representing treatment appointed by the Governor’s Commission on Alcohol and Other Drugs: Dr. Seddon Savage
  • One member representing recovery appointed by the Governor’s Commission on Alcohol and Other Drugs: Emily Rice
  • One public school superintendent, or designee, appointed by the New Hampshire School Administrators Association: Ellen Riiska
  • Attorney General’s designee/Commission Chairperson: Deputy Attorney General James Boffetti

How can members of the public learn about what is being discussed at NH Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission meetings?

All meetings of the Commission are open to the public. There is time for public comment at each meeting. Members of the public can attend a meeting in person or online because all meetings allow for virtual participation. 

All meeting materials, including meeting location, meeting minutes, agendas and a link for virtual participation are posted on this webpage. 

What can the opioid settlement funds be used for?

The money from these legal settlements can only be used for opioid abatement projects for individuals who have, or are at risk for, an opioid use disorder, and any co-occurring substance use disorder or mental health issues.

NH RSA 126-A:86 limits the use of funds for projects that meet one of the following criteria:

  1. Reimburse the state and any political subdivision within the state for any portion of its costs related to outpatient and residential opioid use disorder (OUD) and any co-occurring substance use disorder or mental health (SUD/MH) treatment services, including, but not limited to costs for:
    • Medications for substance use disorders (MSUD), abstinence-based treatment, treatment and recovery or other services provided by the state, any of its political subdivisions, community health centers, and not-for-profit providers, as long as no other reimbursement would otherwise have been received by any such recipient for such services; or 
    • Treatment provided to persons charged with crimes who are participating in a pre-trial services program, are being held on bail, are serving sentences in a state or county correctional facility, or are receiving treatment as a condition of probation, parole, or of a suspended or deferred sentence, as long as no other reimbursement would otherwise have been received by any such recipient for such services; 
  2. Reimburse the state and any political subdivision for emergency response services related to OUD and any co-occurring SUD/MH issues provided by law enforcement and first responders; 
  3. Support mobile intervention, treatment, and recovery services, offered by qualified professionals, for persons with OUD and any co-occurring SUD/MH issues or persons who have experienced an opioid overdose, including the prevention and/or treatment of secondary physical health conditions associated with, or exacerbated by, OUD; 
  4. Support withdrawal management services for persons with OUD and any co-occurring SUD/MH issues, including medically monitored withdrawal management, referral to treatment or connections to other services; 
  5. Reimburse the state and any political subdivision within the state for any portion of the cost of administering FDA-approved opioid reversal agents; 
  6. Provide access to housing for people with OUD and any co-occurring SUD/MH issues, including supportive housing, recovery housing, or housing assistance programs; 
  7. Provide or support transportation to treatment or recovery programs or services for persons with OUD and any co-occurring SUD/MH issues; 
  8. Provide employment training or educational services for persons in treatment for or in recovery from OUD and any co-occurring SUD/MH; 
  9. Create or support centralized call centers that provide information and connections to appropriate services and supports for persons with OUD and any co-occurring SUD/MH issues; 
  10. Improve oversight of opioid treatment programs (OTPs) to assure evidence-based and/or evidence-informed practices; 
  11. Provide scholarships and supports for certified addiction counselors and other mental and behavioral health providers involved in addressing OUD and any co-occurring SUD/MH issues, including, but not limited to, training, scholarships, fellowships, loan repayment programs, or other incentives for providers to work in rural or underserved areas of the state;
  12. Support efforts to prevent over-prescribing and ensure appropriate prescribing and dispensing of opioids through evidence-based and/or evidence-informed programs or strategies;
  13. Support enhancements or improvements consistent with state law to the prescription drug monitoring program;
  14. Support the education of law enforcement or other first responders regarding appropriate practices and precautions when dealing with fentanyl or other drugs.
  15. Support evidence-based and/or evidence-informed primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention programs and services, including efforts to promote healthy lifestyles, reduce isolation, build skills and resilience, and facilitate community-based prevention efforts; 
  16. Support for public and non-public school programs and services for students with OUD and any co-occurring SUD/MH issues or who have been affected by OUD and any co-occurring SUD/MH issues within their family;
  17. Support secondary and tertiary prevention through harm reduction programs;
  18. Support medication assisted treatment (MAT) type services which support the pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical needs of patients with chronic pain, and/or those with pain who are in hospice and/or palliative care who have responded well to opioid therapy as defined in RSA 318-B:41, II(d)(7), yet have been subject to non-consensual dose reduction, detoxification, and/or abandonment by their providers; and
  19. Support services which increase access to comprehensive, integrative pain management services as an alternative to opioid therapy for those with acute and/or chronic pain and/or those with pain who are in hospice and/or palliative care. 

How much grant money has been awarded from the trust fund to date?

Total amount of grants approved by Governor and Executive Council = $50,743,722.00

Additionally, 23 political subdivisions have received = $14,454,071.10

(Those subdivisions include all ten NH counties plus the following cities/towns: Belmont, Berlin, Claremont, Concord, Derry, Dover, Franklin, Keene, Laconia, Londonderry, Manchester, Nashua, and Rochester.) 

See Amount of NH Opioid Abatement Trust Fund Grant Money Awarded to Date for details. 

Do cities, town and counties get a share of these funds?

Yes.  The statute provides that those political subdivisions that filed their own lawsuits against opioid companies prior to September 1, 2019 receive a proportional share of an amount equal to 15% off the top of all settlement funds received.  Those subdivisions include all 10 counties plus Belmont, Berlin, Claremont, Concord, Derry, Dover, Franklin, Keene, Laconia, Londonderry, Manchester, Nashua, and Rochester.  

Each county, city, or town that gets a share of these funds decides how to use it to abate the opioid crisis in their community.  The funds must be use for opioid abatement projects as defined in RSA 126-A:86.  The Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission does not control these decisions, but each subdivision must submit a yearly report on how the money is spent.  Those reports can be below under the "Distribution of Funds" section. 

As of October, 2024, those 23 subdivisions have received a total of $14,454,071.10.  If you have questions about how your local county, city or town is using this money and/or if any funding is available, contact your county, city or town government.

All cities, towns and counties are eligible for grants from the trust fund.

How can a nonprofit organization or governmental entity apply for these funds?

The Commission has been working to identify major needs to fight the opioid epidemic.  The Commission issued a general Request for Grant Applications (RGA) in 2023 and most recently has targeted grants aimed at increasing housing options for people with OUD and any co-occurring SUD/MH issues.  The Commission is also discussing how to improve and expedite the grant making process going forward, including contracting with a facilitating organization to make community level grants up to $75,000/year.  When appropriate, the Commission will consider investing in strategic, systemic, and collaborative efforts to expand statewide services and infrastructure. These considerations are aligned with the NH Governor’s Commission on Alcohol and Other Drugs, State Action Plan: Strengthening Our Response Together.

When appropriate, the Commission will consider recommending investments in strategic, systemic, and collaborative efforts to expand statewide services and infrastructure. These considerations are aligned with the NH Governor’s Commission on Alcohol and Other Drugs, State Action Plan: Strengthening Our Response Together.

Organizations should also contact any of the 23 subdivisions listed in Q7 above to inquire about accessing the settlement funds they are receiving. 

If you have questions, please reach out to the Opioid Abatement Commission’s Chair, Deputy Attorney General James Boffetti at: james.t.boffetti@doj.nh.gov.

Where can I find information about substance use disorder and mental health services, and recovery support available in NH, including services for children and youth?

  • Strong as Granite is a campaign that's raising awareness of the mental health and substance use support and recovery resources available throughout New Hampshire. It's part of a coordinated effort to bring help, hope and healing to all Granite Staters. Go to the Strong as Granite webpage, or Google “Strong as Granite NH”.
  • 24/7 behavioral health crisis support is available in NH: 
    If you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health and/or substance use crisis, you can call and speak to trained and caring clinical staff. You’ll be served by compassionate providers from mental health centers in your community who can help you access vital resources in an emergency. It’s free and confidential and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – including holidays. You can contact crisis support by phone, text or chat. 

Related Resources

Legal Filing

 

Administrative Rules

Administrative Laws

2024 Annual Reporting

Distribution of Funds

The Attorney General's office sent a letter to 47 New Hampshire subdivisions encouraging them to participate in the National Opioid Settlement to maximize the amount paid to the State. Of the 47 subdivisions, 23 participated. Funds are distributed on a 4-payment schedule referred to as the Opioid Abatement Trust Fund - Distributions Under 126 A83 II.

The letters documenting payments received each year by participating subdivisions are listed below.

Belknap County

Belmont, Town of

Berlin, City of

Carroll County

Cheshire County

Claremont, City of

Concord, City of

Coos County

Derry, Town of

Dover, City of

Franklin, City of

2024 

Grafton County

Hillsborough County

Keene, City of

Laconia, City of

Londonderry, Town of

Manchester, City of

Merrimack County

Nashua, City of

Rochester, City of

Rockingham County

Strafford County

Sullivan County

 

Meeting Information & Related Documents

2025 Meetings

2024 Meetings

2023 Meetings

2022 Meetings

2021 Meetings

Opioid-related News from the State Attorney General

Escape Site