Nashua's Heroin Epidemic: 16 Deaths, 142 Overdoses in 2015

Federal drug czar Michael Botticelli on Monday visited Nashua to address the state’s heroin epidemic.

Botticelli met with Gov. Maggie Hassan, U.S. Sens. Kelly Ayotte and Jeanne Shaheen, and local police, among others.

“Substance abuse ... is the most pressing public health and safety challenge facing our state,” Hassan said in a statement. “We know that we cannot arrest our way out of this problem and that we must boost prevention efforts and strengthen treatment and recovery programs.”

Nashua Police Chief Andrew Lavoie said there have been 142 overdoses so far this year—and 16 of those people have died, according to the Union Leader. Those numbers are more than double last year’s totals.

Hassan said of particular concern is the state’s lack of treatment centers.

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Nashua’s Heroin Crisis in 2015

• Nashua Police Aid FBI in Capture of Big-Time NH Heroin Dealer
• ‘She Made a Lot of Bad Decisions’: Heartbreaking Obituary for NH Woman Who Died of Heroin Overdose
• Mass. Heroin Traffickers Targeted Nashua with $100K Worth of Drugs, Feds Say
• Another Heroin Arrest for Nashua Man
• Nashua Couple Charged with Dealing Heroin
• Woman, 45, Charged with Dealing Heroin in Nashua