Overdose Rates Highest In Nashua And Manchester Since 2018

NASHUA, NH — Opioid overdose rates in Nashua and Manchester are the highest they've been in nearly three years.

Both Manchester and Nashua had 95 opioid overdoses in the month of January alone, a report from the American Medical Response Ambulance Service said.

The American Medical Response also said there were 9 opioid-related deaths between the two cities in January.

The last time the rate was that high was pre-pandemic, in April 2018.

Nationally, opioid-related overdose deaths soared to a record 93,000 last year. Fentanyl was involved in more than 60% of overdose deaths last year, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Many people suffering from opioid addiction got their start from prescription painkillers prescribed by doctors, which led them to buy street drugs like heroin and fentanyl to replace OxyContin and Percocet when they ran out.

On Thursday, the CDC said they are proposing changes to their guidelines for doctors prescribing opioid pain relievers which could actually make it easier for doctors to prescribe them.

Under the new proposal, the CDC would no longer suggest limiting opioid use for acute pain to three days, but in a case-by-case manner.

"I actually think that's a good thing because there were some people when that initial guidance came out that depend on opioids -- because they are very useful in a lot of cases and they depend upon them," WMUR reported American Medical Response regional director Chris Stawasz saying. "But there were some drastic cuts that came down through them to people who really rely on them medically for an important part of their health."

The CDC has now opened a 60-day public comment period on the proposed changes. They will consider comments and recommendations before officially updating the guidance.