Substance Misuse Data Page
Here are some of the data sources DHHS uses to increase awareness about substance misuse in New Hampshire.
American Medical Response (AMR) Opioid Crisis Summary Reports
AMR is a medical transportation company that tracks overdose services that are made each month in Manchester and Nashua NH.
Here are the charts of suspected opioid OD statistics for Nashua & Manchester, NH for February 2023.
- There were 18 suspected opioid deaths in Nashua & Manchester in February. That is the most suspected opioid deaths in a one-month period for Nashua & Manchester combined since tracking began in 2015.
- There were 13 suspected opioid OD deaths in Manchester and 5 in Nashua during February. Almost all of those deaths remain in a pending toxicology status but are highly suspected to involve opioids.
- There were 55 suspected opioid ODs in Manchester during February bringing the year-to-date (YTD) total to 111. The total annual number of suspected opioid ODs in Manchester is currently trending 2% lower than last year on an annual basis. Suspected fatal opioid ODs in Manchester are trending 41% higher than last year on an annual basis. Just over 16% of all the suspected opioid ODs in Manchester so far this year have been fatal.
- AMR medics have responded to a total of 137 suspected opioid ODs in Nashua and Manchester through the end of February with 25 of them resulting in suspected opioid OD deaths. 18 in Manchester and 7 in Nashua.
The significant increase in deaths can most likely be attributed to very potent synthetic fentanyl which is now being found in nearly all types of illicit substances. In many cases, people who are using illicit substances have no idea that what they are using contains synthetic fentanyl - or how potent the synthetic fentanyl in the product is. Synthetic fentanyl can be lethal the first time you use it, knowingly or unknowingly.
To help prevent death, it is critical that people who use illicit drugs do not use them alone and have Narcan readily available. Narcan can be easily obtained throughout New Hampshire at numerous pharmacies, is available free of charge from local public health departments and is easy to administer.
There is no safe illicit drug. Again, people who use illicit drugs of any type should bear in mind that it is highly likely there is synthetic Fentanyl in the substance that they are using.
In NH, anyone can seek substance use disorder treatment by accessing the NH Doorway program. The NH Doorway program can be accessed 24/7 by calling 2-1-1 at any time of the day or night or by visiting www.thedoorway.nh.gov.
Related DHHS Data Pages
AMR Summary Reports 2022
AMR Summary Reports 2021
AMR Summary Reports 2020
NH Drug Monitoring Initiative (DMI)
This month-to-month trend analysis uses data from various sources to track current trends in drug overdose deaths in New Hampshire.
The Drug Monitoring Initiative now has an interactive DMI viewer.