Presidential Candidates Discuss Drug Abuse on the Campaign Trail

Presidential candidates from both parties are discussing drug abuse on the campaign trail, the Burlington Free Press reports.

Hillary Clinton began bringing up the issue of heroin after she was questioned about it at a meeting in New Hampshire. She sought out the advice of Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin, who dedicated his 2014 State of the State address to the heroin epidemic.

After speaking with Shumlin, Clinton unveiled a $10 billion plan designed to tackle substance abuse and addiction over the next decade. Clinton said her plan was inspired by Vermont’s focus on treatment instead of incarceration, and the state’s expansion of the anti-overdose drug naloxone.

Clinton’s plan would increase the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment block grant, and would offer 80 percent federal matching grants for states that invest in plans for addiction prevention and treatment. She also proposed changing regulations to allow nurse practitioners to prescribe medication to treat addiction, and to allow doctors to treat more patients with medication-assisted treatment.

“I think that is very much a reflection of the New Hampshire primary process. We are having regular and frequent conversations with the candidates,” said Loretta L.C. Brady, a trauma and addiction researcher and professor in clinical psychology at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire.

New Hampshire residents say drug abuse and heroin are the second-largest problem facing the state, according to a recent poll.

Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders has also called for the wider availability of naloxone. He and Republican candidate Chris Christie have called for increased funding for drug courts that provide treatment instead of prison sentences.

Republican candidate Carly Fiorina discussed her personal connection to substance abuse at the recent Republican debate. “I buried a child to drug addiction,” she said. She was referring to the death of her stepdaughter, who died after struggles with alcoholism and drug abuse.