Miller: New Hampshire's Drug Problem: A Lack Of Leadership

PENACOOK, NH — My name is Kevin Miller and I support a stronger, more proactive approach to dealing with New Hampshire’s addiction crisis. We’re both tired of discussing it and heartbroken over its results ... but even more so over the lack of concern our local leadership has shown us. A study done by the National Institute on Drug Abuse shows that fentanyl-related overdoses, the most powerful form of opioids, has increased by 1,629 percent from 2010 to 2015.

That is one thousand, six hundred, and twenty nine percent… What has our local Senate and House leadership done about this? (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Concord NH Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

They approved the newest rules that state that a licensed practitioner should prescribe opioids for the “lowest effective dose for the shortest duration” with no actual outline for dosing quantity. As a matter of fact, so long as the prescription lasts 30 days or less the prescriber doesn’t have to see the patient again.

Thirty days? For an unregulated quantity of opioids based on the prescriber’s opinion? Isn’t that how we got here in the first place?

We voted these people into office because we believed they cared. So whether it’s lack of leadership, lack of caring, a mixture of, or any other outside issues, those are all just excuses.

New Hampshire needs to stand together. We need to show the world we aren’t just a “drug-infested den”... that we are a state of thinkers, entrepreneurs, fighters… The People!

Join me in the fight on the campaign trail!

References:

• NH Study - Fentanyl Abuse Sky Rockets by 1,629%
• NH Medical Society

Kevin Miller is a candidate for state representative in Penacook.