A coalition of fire chiefs, responding to an increase in repeated drug overdoses by the same people, is seeking state money to hire drug counselors who can train first responders in how to better direct victims toward treatment and recovery services.
Emergency responders this year have administered nearly 3,000 doses of the opioid antidote naloxone, known by its brand name Narcan.
It reflects an increase of more than 300 percent since 2012, before the height of the state's current opioid crisis, and does not count doses of Narcan given by nonemergency personnel. It's not uncommon for fire and emergency rescuers to give Narcan to the same person more than once, reflecting a cycle of addiction that first responders say they want to help stop. details...
University of New Hampshire expands...
It reflects an increase of more than 300 percent since 2012, before the height of the state's current opioid crisis, and does not count doses of Narcan given by nonemergency personnel. It's not uncommon for fire and emergency rescuers to give Narcan to the same person more than once, reflecting a cycle of addiction that first responders say they want to help stop.
"We're giving Narcan too much," Portsmouth Fire Chief Steve Achilles told lawmakers recently. "It resolves a short-term problem and doesn't address the long-term effect of the epidemic."
Achilles is joining Manchester's fire chief and the Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire in asking lawmakers to fund a $1.1 million initiative to place counselors in local departments.