Pubdate: Thu, 01 May 2014
Source: Union Leader (Manchester, NH)
Copyright: 2014 The Union Leader Corp.
Contact:  http://www.unionleader.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/761
Note: Out-of-state letters are seldom published.
Author: Kimberly Houghton
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

NH TOWNS, CITIES SEE HEROIN SPIKES

NASHUA - With about 40 heroin overdoses in the Gate City so far this 
year - the most recent one this week - Police Chief John Seusing said 
the increase in drug-related problems is overwhelming.

Pleading with city officials for money to hire four more police 
officers, Seusing said the city is on track to triple the number of 
heroin overdoses in 2014 over last year.

"That is pretty alarming," said the chief. "This heroin addiction is 
so severe - this is all they care about. They are married to that drug."

At a round table discussion last month in Derry, members of the law 
enforcement community from across the state talked about the 
startling increase in heroin overdoses and deaths.

 From 2008 to 2013, Hillsborough County saw the highest number of 
heroin-related deaths, 86. Merrimack County reported seven deaths in 
2013, as did Cheshire County. Strafford County had six deaths; 
Grafton County had four in 2013.

This week, Nashua police found a 48-year-old woman dead from a heroin 
overdose, according to Seusing, who said a needle was still in her 
arm when authorities arrived.

"I need your assistance," he told the aldermanic Budget Review 
Committee on Wednesday.

Seusing proposes adding three more patrolmen, three extra drug unit 
officers and one additional member to the Problem Oriented Policing unit.

He only has to get authorization to hire four patrolmen.

The other positions would be staffed by converting three positions 
filled by police officers to civilian posts and reassigning those officers.

In 2012, there were 30 heroin overdoses in Nashua. In 2013, that 
number increased to 48. With about 40 heroin overdoses so far this 
year, Seusing says the problem is getting out of hand.

Drug problems are the catalyst to many crimes in the city, according 
to police officials.

Seusing said his request to increase the department's authorized 
strength is a "bare bones recommendation" that will be a step in the 
right direction to make a dent in the drug issue over time, which 
police hope will reduce some of the crime.

Other communities in New Hampshire are also struggling to cope with 
heroin problems, including Merrimack.

On Monday, Merrimack police responded to a local Mobil station where 
a woman was found unconscious in the public bathroom with a needle 
next to her on the floor, according to Chief Mark Doyle.

"We have seen a huge uptick of heroin-related overdoses," said Doyle.

In the last calendar year, police have responded to about 12 or 13 
heroin-related overdoses, which he said is about 100 to 150 percent 
more than the prior year.

"Those numbers may seem small, but they are significant in 
Merrimack," the chiefs said.

The heroin epidemic is not only a New Hampshire problem, but really a 
New England problem, according to Doyle, who said communities cannot 
arrest their way out of it.

"Your heroin addict isn't your typical junkie anymore. These people 
are going to work and moms taking care of kids that are addicted to 
pain meds and when that isn't available, they realize they can get a 
fix on heroin," he said.

In addition, heroin is readily available and cheap, Doyle said.

In Salem, there have been an estimated 19 or 20 heroin overdoses so 
far this year, according to Capt. James Chase of the Salem Police Department.

"We are on pace to really kill our numbers from previous years," said 
Chase. "We are definitely seeing it big. It is almost an epidemic 
here at this point. We are getting called weekly."

Seusing said the issue in Nashua is not going away.

"It is a big problem, and the police department itself cannot fix it 
all," he told aldermen.

On April 17, Portsmouth police seized approximately $1,000 worth of 
heroin and made two arrests.

"Portsmouth Police have seen a significant uptick in heroin and 
crimes related to it over the past year," police said in a posting on 
the department's Facebook page. "A contributing factor has been the 
low street price of the drug when compared with the street price of 
its pharmaceutical counterparts."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom