Commission Pushes For Money To Combat Alcohol And Drug Abuse

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Credit Todd Bookman / NHPR

Attorney General Michael Delaney, surrounded by members of the Governor's Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse.

New Hampshire consistently ranks as one of the healthiest states in the nation. But advocates say that masks an alarming rate of substance abuse, specifically among young adults.

And so, the Governor’s Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse is launching a new campaign to highlight the need for more resources.

Specifically, they want to see a greater percent of sales from state-owned liquor stores be allocated for counseling services.

For the past decade, lawmakers have instead used those funds to help balance the budget.

A report out last December found that the state loses $1.15 billion in lost productivity and increased healthcare costs due to excessive alcohol.

The Commission cites four areas in need of greater funding: alcohol misuse, marijuana use, prescription drug misuse, and co-occurring substance issues and mental health disorders.