Narcan is administered for overdose cases throughout the city. Nashua Fire Rescue alone
administered Narcan 169 times last year, and NFR administered14 doses of Narcan
during the first several weeks of 2016. AMR also is responding to overdose cases on a
regular basis - AMR responded to X OD’s in 2015.
The NH treatment system does not have enough capacity for the number of people who
need treatment.
There is a high demand for more beds for treatment in Nashua.
o Keystone Hall currently provides 52 treatment beds for those seeking treatment
across the state. Top priority is given to pregnant women or those who have
received Narcan in the past two weeks. There are tiers of priorities, but the
system only really has capacity for these top priority cases.
o There are funding allies in Nashua interested in investing in facilities for
treatment, and providing more beds. However, the staffing and licensing of these
facilities may be outside the capacity of our Nashua-based organizations right
now.
Not only is there a demand for more treatment beds, there is a demand for longer stay
during treatment. There must be a way for people to have the options of 28-day, 90-day,
and 6 month recovery. At the present time there is no 6-month treatment option
available.
The Nashua Public Health department will be hiring a Substance Misuse Treatment &
Recovery Coordinator. This coordinator will be putting together a “Gap Analysis” of
where the system in Nashua needs work.
The Nashua Drug Court Program provides a nontraditional pathway through the criminal
justice system. Forty high risk offenders go through the program at a time, and a team of
professionals meets each week to talk about the progress of each program participant.
Run in conjunction with Nashua Police Department and Greater Nashua Mental Health
Center. Drug Court refers people to treatment & case management through Greater
Nashua Mental Health Center and allows those convicted to develop a more positive
relationship with police.
Recovery
Recovery is the stage of treatment which occurs after release from a treatment program such as
the program at Keystone Hall. The discussion at the Task Force meeting raised the following
points:
Nashua does not have a community center for those in recovery and their families.
H.E.A.R.T.S. Peer Support Center, an adult education and wellness center in Nashua,
holds many meetings relating to substance use.
o “Considering Recovery” group once a week
o Alcoholics Anonymous and Heroin Anonymous meet at the center
Hope for NH Recovery in Manchester has a strong program. We could become an
affiliate of their program and use them as a model. Director Holly Cekala is willing to be
a resource.
Next Steps
The Task Force participants laid out the following next steps:
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