New Hampshire’s top law enforcement officers say prescription drug abuse is growing at an alarming rate.
Attorney General Michael Delaney and Safety Commissioner John Barthlemes told The Associated Press on Thursday they are planning a March 30 summit to draw attention to the problem and map out a strategy to combat it. They said law enforcement needs help from the medical and treatment communities in dealing with the problem.
Delaney said the deaths from all kinds of drug overdoses more than tripled between 1995 and 2007. He said a substantial number involved prescription drugs. Barthlemes said prescription drugs are now the No. 2 substance – second only to marijuana – brought into the state crime lab by officers for testing.