Trump Spotlights Nashua Safe Stations In Opioid Emergency

NASHUA, NH — President Trump on Thursday highlighted the Nashua "Safe Stations" program as a beacon of hope amid the country's opioid crisis. Trump declared opioid abuse a national public health emergency and directed the expansion of recovery centers, especially in rural areas. During a speech at the White House, Trump singled out the Safe Stations program, which was started in Manchester last year and expanded to Nashua.

Safe Stations allows anyone with opioid abuse to walk into a fire station and get connected with recovery help. Since November, the program has served more than 1,000 addicts in Nashua alone, local officials said.

"It will take many years and even decades to address this scourge in our society," Trump said Thursday in a speech at the White House. "But we must start in earnest now to combat a national health emergency. We are inspired by the stories of every day heroes who pull their communities from the depths of despair, through leadership and through love. Fire chief Dan Goonan of New Hampshire, great state, runs a program, Safe Station, which allows drug-dependent residents to seek help at fire stations at any time. Jesse and Cindi Swafford of Dayton, Ohio, have provided a loving, stable home to children affected by the opioid crisis. I am calling on every American to join the ranks of guardian angels like Chief Goonan and the Swaffords who help lift up the people of our great nation."

In Nashua, Safe Stations appears to be having a positive effect. In the first quarter of this year, overdoses dropped 34 percent compared to 2016, according to AMR Nashua. Other statistics are sobering — there have been at least 29 suspected overdose deaths in Nashua so far in October, a 7 percent increase compared to the same time last year, according to Christopher Stawasz, regional director for American Medical Response, which serves Nashua and Manchester. There are other signs of hope, however, as overall overdose reports were down 12 percent.

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:

Trump: Opioid Overdoses A 'Public Health Emergency'

Nashua Opioid Deaths: 29 Suspected So Far In 2017

Nashua Safe Stations Program Connects Opioid Addicts With Help

Nashua Opioid Crisis: Overdoses Drop 34 Percent

Trump: We Will Overcome Addiction In America

Photo: President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk in to speak on combatting drug demand and the opioid crisis in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

The Associated Press contributed to this report