Telegraph photo by ADAM URQUHART American Medical Response Regional Director Chris Stawasz sits at his desk to review maps and charts on his computer relative to tracking the ongoing opioid crisis.

NASHUA – American Medical Response Regional Director Chris Stawasz said a pair of economy chain motels in Nashua are “by far the two areas that we respond to most often for overdoses.”

Overall, AMR’s 2019 year-end opioid overdose report for Nashua indicates mixed results. Nashua saw the total number of opioid overdoses decline in 2019 compared to 2018. However, there were more fatalities related to fentanyl, heroin and similar drugs last year than in 2018.

Last year, Nashua experienced a 17% decline in overdoses, at 265 for 2019, compared to 314 for 2018.

“I think it’s due to a lot of different factors,” Stawasz said regarding the overall decline in overdoses. “Number one, is all the work that’s been going on for getting people into recovery. That’s probably followed closely by the amount of legwork by law enforcement to get the drugs off the street.”

However, the number of overdoses resulting in death jumped from 35 to 37, year over year.

Regarding fatalities, Stawasz said in urban areas, such as Nashua and Manchester, there are many more services and recovery options available to those experiencing substance use disorder (SUD). This can attract people with SUD to these more populated areas, especially considering the relative lack of access to such treatment programs in the more rural areas of New Hampshire.

Because people are flocking to more heavily populated areas, this could be one factor as to why the number of fatalities has increased.

Among the state’s two largest cities – Nashua and Manchester – 94 people lost their lives as a result of an opioid-related overdose in 2019. This figure nearly equals the number of traffic-related fatalities seen across the entire state in 2019, which is 99 people.

Also, public Narcan use is continuing to skyrocket. Narcan, or Naloxone, is a drug used to treat narcotic overdose in an emergency situation.

Some common examples of opioids include:

• Heroin

• Fentanyl

• Codeine

• Hydrocodone

• Oxycodone

• Oxymorphone

• Morphine

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, in the short term, opioids can relieve pain and make people feel relaxed and happy. However, opioids can also have harmful effects, including:

• Drowsiness

• Confusion

• Nausea

• Constipation

• Euphoria

• Slowed breathing

• Hypoxia, which can result in brain damage or death.

Moving into the new year, a spike in opioid overdoses is being seen, especially in Manchester. Within the initial days of 2020, Manchester has already seen 16 opioid overdoses, and two fatalities, one of which is pending toxicology.

“It’s something that we haven’t seen for several years,” Stawasz said.

Nashua’s spike is not of the same magnitude as Manchester, but is still higher than what has been seen in the last several months. Stawasz admits there is still a long way to go, but believes officials are making a difference in the ongoing battle.

Adam Urquhart may be contacted at 594-1206, or at aurquhart@nashuatelegraph.com.

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