A governor’s commission has released a report detailing surprising levels of prescription drug abuse in New Hampshire. The commission’s findings give weight to a push to create a prescription drug monitoring program in the state.
According to the report, almost 17 percent of 18 to 25-year-olds in New Hampshire say they have abused prescription drugs in the past year. That’s the second highest rate in the country.
The governor's commission is backing a bill pushed by Senator Jeb Bradley that would create an electronic monitoring system that would help doctors zero-in on people abusing or re-selling prescription drugs. Timothy Rourke, the chair of the commission, says that even though previous efforts to pass similar legislation have failed, this time around things could be different.
"There is a real sense of emergency right now about what’s happening in the state," says Rourke ,"and growing sense that there needs to be some response."
Whatever the lawmakers decide the commission will be working with doctors, educators, and law enforcement to reduce drug abuse.
