NHPR News
The chemicals that limit a person's ability to act, think and feel help fill the prisons, add to the cost of health care, strain our social services, and reduce business profits. And one drug in particular causes most of the damage
Tom, a lifelong alcoholic, tells his story. Part of what makes addiction difficult to stop is that it can disappear for years, only to return more aggressive than ever.
People who want to end their dependence on alcohol or any drug have few places to turn in the state. The number of treatment facilities has actually declined over the years, but the number of people seeking help hasn't.
Drinking at celebrations dates back some six thousand years to the Sumerians of Mesopotamia. Since those times, drinking, certainly at American weddings, has become as much a part of the party as bouquets and dancing. One New Hampshire wedding bucked the ancient tradition, but the decision to go dry initially didn't sit right with some of the main guests.
At least thirteen percent of patients seeing a primary care physician in New Hampshire have a potential problem with alcohol. And experts say if doctors played a more active role in spotting the people at risk, there would be fewer substance abuse problems in the long run.
Sin taxes are a mainstay of the state's revenue structure. Last year, when the governor and legislature wanted to raise more money one solution was to propose a new liquor store. But in the effort to tap revenue from alcohol, the state's tax on beer remains a poor cousin.
The Exchange
America's relationship with alcohol dates back to the days of the Puritans, and since that time it's been a rocky one. At times drinks have flowed freely; other times, there's been serious crackdowns, the most dramatic being Prohibition. We'll ask why there's been both a culture of drinking and abstaining throughout the history of the United States and which one dominates today.
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Find out more
Dealing with Addiction: A One-Hour Special: Join hosts John Walters and Shay Zeller for an in-depth look at how addiction affects New Hampshire.
Alcohol: Keeping Count NHPR produced this interactive Flash documentary in conjunction with the Overlooking Alcohol series.
NHPR: Substance Abuse You can find all of NHPR's stories and programs on substance abuse here.
Resources
A collection of online resources and links related to alcohol and substance abuse.
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