Sununu hails pact with China on tougher fentanyl regs

Staff reports 9:04 a.m.


Sununu hails pact with China on tougher fentanyl regs

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu ... onboard with Trump agreement with China president (Courtesy photo)

CONCORD - Gov. Chris Sununu and state officials on Monday lauded President Donald Trump for his agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping to list all "fentanyl-like substances as controlled substances" in China. The agreement will impose strict penalties on fentanyl manufacturers trying to import the deadly drug to the United States, which eventually makes its way into New Hampshire.
"As governor of one of the hardest hit states by the opioid epidemic, I applaud the President for working with Chinese officials in reducing the amount of fentanyl and fentanyl-like substances from entering the United States," said Gov. Sununu. "For the first time in years, the overdose rate in New Hampshire is projected to go down, and we are confident this positive development will help contribute to a future decrease in the number of drug overdose deaths in New Hampshire."

Director of State Police Col. Christopher Wagner echoed the governor's sentiments.
"Fentanyl has been at the center of the opioid crises in New Hampshire for some time, damaging families, and causing loss of life," Wagner said. "We continue to work closely with local, state and federal partners to stop the trafficking and distribution of narcotics in New Hampshire and welcome any developments that help in that effort."

"China's labeling fentanyl a controlled substance is a huge win for New Hampshire," said Patrick Tufts, Chairman of the Governor's Commission on Alchohol and Drug Abuse Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment. "Fentanyl is 100 times stronger than morphine and has claimed the lives of hundreds of New Hampshire's citizens. Strong penalties in China will reduce the flow of this powerful drug into our state."