By KIMBERLY HOUGHTON – As New Hampshire grapples with the ongoing drug epidemic, officials are attempting to treat rather than incarcerate repeat criminal offenders battling with substance abuse.
On Tuesday, Gov. Maggie Hassan signed a bipartisan bill that establishes a $2.23 million statewide drug court program, and includes a provision to allow Manchester quick access to grant money to begin a drug court as soon as possible, if the county delegation approves.
Chris Overka, one of the first graduates of the Nashua Drug Court, met recently with local and state officials to share his success story and praise the program.
“The first thing I ever did with my dad was shoot heroin,” Overka told Sen. Jeanne Shaheen during a visit to Hillsborough County Superior Court South.
He was caught shoplifting about 25 times, but acknowledged that he stole probably on 1,000 occasions.
“People that were adults and in charge of me abused me and perpetuated the need for me to find relief through drugs and alcohol,” said Overka.
Prison only exacerbated the problem, he said. The Nashua drug court system held him accountable and acknowledged his progress, he said.
Sen. Jeb Bradley, R-Wolfeboro, one of the sponsors of Senate Bill 464, explained Tuesday that Senate Bill 464 provides more than $2 million in matching state grants for counties to establish new drug courts and expand existing ones, as well as creates a statewide coordinator to work with the courts to ensure that best practices are being implemented.
“You can’t change a decade of (drug) use with four weeks of intensive outpatient programs,” said Nellie Chancey, probation parole officer with the Nashua Drug Court.
Traditional court mandates may require outpatient treatment for about four weeks. However, the Nashua Drug Court may provide nine to 21 weeks of intensive outpatient therapy, along with one or two residential treatment stays, according to Chancey.
“I think the component that the drug court brings is really the level of treatment and supervision that high-need and high-risk offenders require,” she explained. “And we follow through after graduation. They continue on probation.”
Alex Casale will be the state coordinator for the program.
He currently holds that position in the Strafford County drug court. Senate Bill 464 also calls for the transfer of $40 million into the Rainy Day Fund this fiscal year.
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