Chief Willard

The chief of police of the city with the highest heroin overdose rates in New Hampshire.  I attended a panel discussion tonight that had the chief, the director of Health and Human Services, an EMT (ambulance attendant) and a couple of local politicians.  They gathered together with members of the community, those in recovery and those who had children suffering with this disease, now and also in recovery and those of us who had lost family members to substance misuse.  They wanted to hear from the community what we saw as solutions.  What would we suggest they do to try and combat this pervasive issue?  Some of the things mentioned were Education and Prevention starting in middle school, affordable sober living in the city, peer recovery coaches in hospitals and schools available at the time of an overdose and revival and before, decriminalizing small amounts of substances in favor of treatment, treatment programs in jails. 

An enlightening evening with some really good ideas being tossed around and people who are instrumental in making changes willing to listen.