A New Hampshire organization believes that early intervention is the key to dealing with the state's opioid crisis.
More than 140 people have died this year from drug overdoses in New Hampshire. Officials said children are on the front line of the crisis.
"More children are experiencing stress in the home," Manchester Police Chief Nick Willard said. "They are seeing trauma every day. I have seen it personally, being out on the street with the officers."
Willard said that last year, New Hampshire had one of the highest rates of opioid-related deaths in the country. His department created a response team specifically meant to help children cope with seeing their parents overdose or, in some cases, die.
"I think the earlier the intervention into a child's life to help reduce toxic stress is of vital importance," Willard said.
Spark NH, an early childhood advisory council, is working to reduce that stress by supporting programs and resources for families.'
[For more of this story, written by Kristen Carosa, go to http://www.wmur.com/article/or...ioid-crisis/11649419]
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