Overdoses In Nashua And Manchester See Huge Increase Over 2020

NASHUA, NH — New Hampshire's two largest cities are experiencing significant increases in overdoses and overdose-related deaths in 2021 when compared to last year.

The combined Nashua and Manchester suspected opioid overdose numbers in June were 73. Consecutive monthly totals above 70 have not happened since June 2019 and clearly indicate an alarming trend of a resurgence in opioid availability and use according to Chris Stawasz, Northeast Regional Director of AMR Ambulance.

Manchester opioid ODs in 2021 are on track to increase 21 percent from the previous year at nearly 500 total.

Nashua opioid ODs in 2021 are on track to increase 17 percent from the previous year at nearly 250 total.

With one-half of the year now complete, both cities are continuing to trend upward by double digits on a year-over-year projection for the number of suspected opioid overdoses.

The city of Manchester who still operates Safe Station had 90 visits in June. That is the highest number of visits in a single month so far this year.

AMR medics continue to see poly illicit substance use and an increase in methamphetamine use as well.

MANCHESTER SUMMARY JUNE 2021 –

• There were 53 suspected opioid OD’s in Manchester during June 2021.
• There were 6 suspected fatal opioid OD’s in Manchester during June 2021.
• Manchester Safe Station numbers are current through the end of June 2021. There were 90 visits in June 2021. (Nashua no longer offers Safe Station)
• 30% of the opioid OD’s in Manchester during June 2021 had layperson Narcan® administered prior to the arrival of first responders.

NASHUA SUMMARY JUNE 2021 –

• There were 19 suspected opioid OD’s in Nashua during June 2021.
• There were 2 suspected fatal OD’s in Nashua during June 2021.
• 26% of the opioid OD’s in Nashua during June 2021 had layperson Narcan® administered prior to the arrival of first responders.

Methamphetamine distribution and abuse are on the rise across New Hampshire and the United States according to Jon DeLena, Associate Special Agent in Charge at the DEA.

DeLena said, “the fear is that this heroin epidemic will look like the minor leagues compared to this if crystal methamphetamine explodes the way that we think it is.”

Traditionally methamphetamine or meth is thought of as a homemade product created in somebody’s apartment or a trailer in small amounts. On average, a homemade methamphetamine lab can produce between five and ten grams and very low purity. This type of methamphetamine can easily be created in someone’s home with ingredients available locally.

The new trend is cartels who create a type of methamphetamine that looks like ice, and that’s actually one of the names for it. Ice is exploding throughout New England.

Mexican organizations have attempted to create a market for crystal methamphetamine here in the states for many years. Up until now it’s never really caught on in New England, however, the perfect storm of events has created a high demand for products that the cartels have available in bulk.

A typical homemade lab in New Hampshire can produce five to ten grams in an hour while a Mexican cartel super lab may create upwards of seven tons every three days. Mexican cartels are using their laboratories to create a less expensive product that is high purity in a greater quantity.

Most overdoses in New Hampshire are due to fentanyl being combined with other products, it is rare that anyone overdoses on heroin or meth. Users of the drugs are not usually aware of how much Fentanyl the drug was combined with and do not know its strength.

Ryan Lessard of Manchester Ink Link article "What’s in a name? The dangerous psychological branding of illegal drugs" provides information on the background of fentanyl.

Firefighters and medical personnel responding to overdoses often use Narcan to treat the issues caused by the overdose. People that have overdosed on a combination of heroin and fentanyl often get up and walk away after receiving the Narcan.

People that are using meth combined with fentanyl introduce a new challenge for the medical personnel. The person who overdosed appears to be unresponsive and is given Narcan. While en route to the hospital the meth kicks in, and the patient becomes very unpredictable and many times violent.

The DEA said the cartels are now making a pill form of crystal meth that is made to resemble Adderall. The DEA believes this is a direct effort to target young people — who often use Adderall as a study drug.

The New England division of the Drug Enforcement Agency offers several articles on the current drug trends, click here.