Salem Public Hearing To Address Substance Abuse Grant

SALEM, NH — This Monday the Board of Selectmen will hold a public hearing on a $105,829 grant to implement a program to help battle substance abuse in the local area. The grant would make it possible for the Salem Fire Department to implement a Mobile Integrated Healthcare. It is a program for first responders aimed at reducing opiate overdoses and deaths.

The grant would be given to the Fire Department as part of the New Hampshire FIRST Program from the NH Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. As part of Mobile Integrated Healthcare, the grant aims to increase the number of at-risk individuals getting referrals for treatment and recovery, and would increase the number of first responders such as firefighters being trained to administer narloxone, which counteracts opiate overdoses.

As part of NH Project FIRST (First responders Initiating Recovery, Support and Treatment), the grant also would allow fire and rescue officials to distribute emergency opioid overdose kids containing narloxone, gloves, a pocket mask, and information on the Good Samaritan Law. Grant funds may also be used for sharing information on available treatment and social services, make follow-up calls for people who have had overdoses, and host public educational events. Grant funding could also be used for overtime by first responders, or to create a position specifically dedicated to this program.

Monday's public hearing will take place at 7 p.m. in the Knightly Meeting Room in the Salem Town Hall, located at 33 Geremonty Dr.