New Hampshire Health Department Releases Drug And Alcohol Plan

The Department of Health and Human Services today joined the Governor's Commission on Drug Abuse Prevention, Intervention and Treatment, Dartmouth Medical School and the state's alcohol and drug service providers in announcing the Alcohol and Drug Plan for New Hampshire at a press conference today.

Overcoming the Impact of Alcohol and Drug Problems is a collaborative, statewide effort to reduce the impact of substance abuse. The plan represents the first comprehensive effort to coordinate all aspects of groups and individuals working on drug and alcohol prevention and treatment.

"Drug and alcohol abuse lead to many of the health and social issues that we deal with on a daily basis," said DHHS Commissioner John Stephen. "Substance abuse is a driving force in a number of the systems that impact all of us, from healthcare to law enforcement and corrections to mental health, and the cost to the taxpayers is staggering. We needed a plan to address these issues, one that encompasses the recommendations from all areas and walks of life, and that's just what this plan does.

The plan incorporates a number of recommendations to coordinate the efforts of State, local, community, religious and education groups, as well as employers to prevent and treat alcohol and drug misuse. The plan also focuses on addressing substance abuse, physical health and mental health in an integrated way and not the disjointed way that often takes place in service delivery today.

"I have been working on the problems associated with substance use for over 30 years and this is the first time that the State as a whole not just a single Department will have a guiding document in tackling substance use problems," added Joe Diament, Chairman of the Governor's Commission on Drug Abuse Prevention, Intervention and Treatment. "I am pleased that The Governor's Commission played one of the leading roles in developing this Plan because the Commission too is representative of the State as a whole not any one Department."

"This plan represents a step forward in our efforts to address an issue we know is both treatable and preventable, and one that takes many voices to address," remarked Tym Rourke, President of the New Hampshire Alcohol and Drug Service Providers Association. "The youth and families in New Hampshire have been waiting for a way to address the problem of addiction, and with this roadmap we are well on our way."

"Dartmouth Medical School and the Department of Psychiatry have actively participated as a partner in this Substance Abuse Plan Development for the state of NH because it realizes both how serious the substance abuse problem is as well as the fact that there are interventions to address this problem that need to be implemented across the state," stated Paul Gorman, CEO at West Central Services and a member of the Board at Dartmouth Medical School. "Dartmouth Medical School looks forward to working with the other partners in the process of developing a plan of implementation for the state's service structure."

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