As a concerned student from the University of New Hampshire, I’m writing you today as someone who has seen the effects of the opioid crisis here in New Hampshire take a toll on the lives of its citizens.
I’m an active participant in the community and have spent a number of years working with children who are faced with disabilities and mental illness; most of them coming from broken homes. I, like many others, have seen far too many of these kids who have been taken away from mom and/or dad because of their addiction.
Even worse, I recently met a young boy who watched his mother die in front of him due to a heroin overdose. These people and their families need our help.
In the past two years, drug-related deaths have increased by 29 percent and are one of the leading causes of mortality in the state. It has gotten to a point where in a room full of people, the majority have or know of someone who has had their lives altered in relation to this epidemic. It’s a scary thing, and it’s our job to help in any way we can.
Whether it’s getting someone to a clinic to get the help they need or offering an ear to simply listen, we can make a difference. We need to continue to create awareness in schools, at our workplaces, even public venues and come together as community to save lives.
Meredith Feenstra
Berwick, Maine