Officials in Merrimack County are currently screening candidates for its new drug court program, which is set to start up next month.
Prosecutors in the county will tell you the number of drug cases they’re seeing are only going up.
That’s why Deputy County Attorney Catherine Ruffle says they needed to try something new.
“Maybe it’s not a magic wand. It may not solve all our problems, but given the issues we’re looking at in the communitie, it’s worth the try," Ruffle said.
The new drug court is expected to take up to 75 people. The idea is similar to other programs – participants will be non-violent repeat drug offenders who will be offered treatment rather than jail time.
So far, six out of the state’s ten counties already have drug court programs.
