New Hampshire’s drug czar on Wednesday released his recommendations for how the state should continue to address the opioid crisis.
The recommendations are part of a 20-page report that includes creating a needle exchange program, expanding medication assisted therapy as well as building work initiatives for people in recovery.
But a majority of James Vara’s presentation at the Executive Council breakfast in New London focused on what the state has already done in the past year.
Vara stressed that since January more than $30 million state dollars have been used to address the opioid crisis.
“We need to make sure that all these things that are happening, all the money that has been allocated, all the now services are working and working effectively. But there’s clearly more work that needs to be done,” Vara said.
Vara said he’s traveled more than 11,000 miles since being appointed in April, talking to community leaders across the state.