Nashua Opioid Crisis: Overdoses Drop 34 Percent

NASHUA, NH — New signs of hope have appeared amid Nashua's opioid crisis, with officials reporting a 34-percent decrease in overdoses. At the same time, more than 300 people have been connected with opioid recovery help thanks to the city's new "Safe Stations" program. (Subscribe to Nashua Patch news alerts for breaking Nashua news. iPhone/iPad users: download the new Patch app.)

American Medical Response-Nashua officials said in the first quarter of this year, overdoses dropped 34 percent compared to 2016. Narcan, an overdose antidote, is being administered an average of about 30 times a month in Nashua to revive overdoses victims, officials said.

Meanwhile, Nashua police have targeted opioid dealers in their ongoing Granite Hammer drug sweeps, which have netted dozens of arrests so far this year.

When the Safe Stations program was launched in November, Mayor Jim Donchess called opioid abuse an epidemic in the city.

"I frequently hear from our front line professionals about the course of the epidemic in our city — the dangerous drugs being peddled on our streets and in our alleyways, the large numbers of criminals being arrested for drug trafficking here, the many Nashuans from every neighborhood and every walk of life who are struggling with the grip of addiction," Donchess said in a statement.

Here's how the Safe Stations program works:

• "Any person seeking treatment and recovery will be able to enter a Nashua fire station where trained firefighters will connect him or her with help. AMR and Harbor Homes will immediately respond to each report.
• If there is no medical need for transportation to the emergency room, Harbor Homes will transport the person seeking help to the Maple Street shelter or to the Harbor Homes complex on High Street. If necessary, medical detox will be available.
• The person seeking help will be cared for while Harbor Homes professionals find an opening in an appropriate recovery program or facility."

Related

• Nashua 'Safe Stations' Program Connects Opioid Addicts With Help
• Nashua Crime Sweeps 2017: 63 Arrested

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