New Hampshire has seen the lowest number of drug-related deaths in more than a decade.
Opioids have been an extremely prevalent issue nationally, let alone statewide. New Hampshire, in particular, has faced challenges related to opioid addiction.
WMUR reported, “In 2024, 287 Granite Staters died from drug-related causes, according to the study. That’s down from a peak of 490 deaths in 2017. 83.6% of the drug-related deaths in New Hampshire last year involved opioids.”
Seeing this major decrease in drug-related deaths in New Hampshire is the light in the dark room in terms of the news. Recently, as we all are aware, there has been so much bad in the world that it is great to see news like this. Though the issue of drugs still remains in the state, it is promising to read that the numbers have finally gone down.
Also, according to WMUR, “Drug-related deaths declined by 33.4% between 2023 and 2024, marking the sharpest single-year decline in at least a decade, the study found. In 2015, New Hampshire had the second highest drug-related fatality rate in the U.S. By 2024, that rate had fallen to the lowest in New England and below the national average.”
This substantial decline in drug-related deaths leads me to question what measures were taken to save and help the people suffering from drug addiction or usage in New Hampshire. It also leads me to wonder– why have more states not done this?
WMUR says, “The study also noted a surge in funding for prevention, treatment, and recovery services. It found that since 2014, New Hampshire had invested more than $837.7 million in those services. New Hampshire has also received more than $98 million in opioid settlement money since 2021. According to the study, nearly half of the settlement money remains unspent.”
I see the surge in funding for prevention, treatment, and recovery services as a perfect example and I am proud to live in a state that cares deeply about its people and takes the extra steps to save them.
Additionally, this way stigmas can start to be eliminated around substance abuse because of the preventative education and treatment implemented in the state due to all of the funding New Hampshire received in 2014 and 2021.
In the article from WMUR, it is mentioned that parts of New Hampshire are incredibly rural, and with that, people who may need to receive help have to travel a far distance for it, which can potentially deter them from going if they do not have adequate transportation.
There are still drug issues that are occurring in New Hampshire, but the steps that New Hampshire has taken to accomplish sobriety statewide are headed in the right direction.
By investing money into programs for drug use reduction and recovery centers, mental health services and access to treatment, the Granite State can continue to persevere through its drug problems.
Ali Barretta can be contacted at
abarretta@kscequinox.com
