Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan last week issued an executive order to establish a Drug Overdose Fatality Review Committee that, according to her office, would examine in-state data and trends related to overdose deaths.

In studying these patterns, the goal is to properly allocate resources so New Hampshire’s public health agencies and law enforcement can most effectively combat the ongoing epidemic.

The timing of the order – less than a month before Election Day in a campaign where Republicans have hammered Hassan over the opioid crisis – makes it seem like the governor is playing politics as she seeks a U.S. Senate seat.

It also raises another question – what has the state done with the data up to this point? The state and region are now several years into this festering addiction emergency, and a review committee could have been established long before mid-October.

The formation of this committee is nevertheless an important step in formulating a long-term strategy for police and identifying gaps in the system, especially when it comes to the lack of treatment and recovery centers here.

"The heroin, opioid and fentanyl crisis is the most urgent public health and public safety issue facing New Hampshire, and we must continue working together on a comprehensive strategy to support law enforcement and strengthen prevention, treatment and recovery," Hassan said in a press statement.

"By analyzing data, trends and patterns of drug overdose-related deaths, this committee will help inform policy recommendations and the effective allocation of resources as we continue working with stakeholders battling addiction on the front lines to combat this horrible epidemic and help save lives," she said.

Despite its Machiavellian undertones, this order is a commitment to the next governor and Legislature, to ensure they have the proper tools to continue this battle. It is, sadly, also further proof that both parties will have to contend with the opioid problem for the foreseeable future.

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