N.H. Drug Abuse Taskforce Asks for State of Emergency Declaration

Sept. 08--SOMERSWORTH -- The Mayor's Drug Abuse Taskforce recommended that city officials ask the governor to declare a State of Emergency to direct resources to battle the heroin epidemic.

The ad-hoc committee, brought together in November 2014 by Mayor Dana Hilliard to examine the heroin epidemic in the city, released its recommendations in a presentation before the city council Tuesday. In the year leading up to the formation of the group, there has been a dozen deaths attributed to heroin overdoses.

Taskforce chair Steve MacKenzie said they were offering only serous recommendations they believe might have some chance of reversing the epidemic's grip on the city.

"We recommend the City Council, perhaps in cooperation with our Seacoast legislative delegation, urge Gov. Maggie Hassan to declare a State of Emergency in New Hampshire with respect to the growing heroin crisis throughout our state," MacKenzie said.

City Councilor David Witham suggested they instead look for a declaration of a public health emergency.

"This is clearly of epidemic proportions," Witham said. "It is not something that could happen; it is something that is happening."

The second recommendation was to increase the city's participation in the Strafford County Drug Task Force, a regional team of law enforcement officers working in communities conducting investigations and drug raids. MacKenzie said the committee would like to double the investment, where currently there is just one half time officer who works two days a week.

Somersworth Police Capt. David Kretschmar said he would like to see five days.

"We don't get our bang for the buck," he said.

MacKenzie said the Mayor's Drug Abuse Taskforce also felt community engagement was critical; and could be accomplished by providing and promoting free or low-cost activities for the community on a regular basis.

"Promote community pride and acceptance through block or ward parties," MacKenzie said. "Family events like cookouts, dances, concerts, plays, the National Night Out, etc."

The Taskforce also supported a slogan such as "We Are Family," "Connecting Community Today," or "We Are Stronger Together" be incorporated into all official city communication, as well putting signage throughout the community to direct people to the help they need.

MacKenzie said in these ways the city would be visibly working to reduce and eliminate social stigmas associated with drug abuse.

The Taskforce also reported that critical support resources are missing, like Alcoholics Anonymous, and other 12 step programs within the city. They recommended a comprehensive list of area support organizations and services presently available to be compiled and posted to the city website as well as widely distributed throughout the city in printed format

MacKenzie said for the long-term the most crucial recommendation of all is education.

"We strongly recommend that the city council formally request the Somersworth School Board adopt a K-12 anti-drug curriculum and require it be taught in every school in the city," MacKenzie said.

He added that to demonstrate the urgency of the request and the commitment of the council, the council should appropriate supplemental funds to purchase such a curriculum.

"High school is too late, middle school is too late," MacKenzie said. "We need to start early and teach what drug abuse can do to their lives."

The Taskforce has a sunset date of December 31, 2015, with that in mind MacKenzie said the city council should respond to the Taskforce's recommendations in a public forum before then.

Councilor Martin Dumont said the Council meets for goal setting and the heroin issue hasn't come up, but the task force has provided the discussion points needed, "Your recommendations have given us a starting point."

Councilor Dale Sprague agreed there is a state of emergency, and said he would like to see candidates talking about the crisis.

Mayor Dana Hilliard thanked the group for its efforts and asked that it continue to meet through the end of the year.

"This is a community problem and the way we are going to address it a community," Hilliard said. "Collectively we can solve some of these problems."

Copyright 2015 - Foster's Daily Democrat, Dover, N.H.