A new report from the Centers for Disease Control shows that New Hampshire had one of the highest drug overdose death rates in the country last year.
The state saw an overdose death rate of 39 people per 100,000 in 2016. That’s up from 34 people per 100,000 the previous year.
New Hampshire had the third-highest rate among the states, behind West Virginia and Ohio.
The national average is 20 deaths per 100,000. Since 1999, overdose deaths have risen threefold.
New Hampshire is expected to close out this year with 466 overdose deaths – about 20 fewer than in 2016.
As the rate of drug deaths remains high, New Hampshire's congressional members have sought more money to combat the crisis.
Credit CDC
