U.S. lawmakers are asking for another $600 billion to fight the drug addiction crisis.

The state of New Hampshire is one of the most affected regions in the nation.

CCTV America’s Sean Callebs reports.

The U.S. problem with opiates is especially bad in New Hampshire. This overwhelmingly white, affluent, small northeastern state has the second highest overdose rate in the in the United States.

Substance abuse costs this small state $1.84 billion a year in lost worker productivity, $81 billion across the entire United States.

The numbers of people who die is astounding and they working in treatment say they have recently noticed a shift in attitudes.

They are hoping funding, and a greater commitment to battling the crisis will soon follow -because right now, it is not getting better.

Scientist Brad Stein on drug addiction and abuse

CCTV America’s Rachelle Akuffo spoke to Brad Stein, the senior natural scientist at the RAND Corporation. They spoke about how deaths from overdose are now comparable to the HIV epidemic.