Trump in NH: Crack down on drugs

Anti-drug message resonates with locals

By RICK GREEN, THE LACONIA DAILY SUN

LACONIA — President Donald Trump, who once called New Hampshire “a drug-infested den,” came to the state yesterday with an anti-drug message that seemed to resonate with local officials.

In a speech in Manchester, Trump declared the need for a nationwide public relations effort to convince Americans, and particularly children, not to start using drugs.

He called for broadcasting “great commercials” to demonstrate to children the dangers of drugs.

“Commercials will save a lot of lives,” Trump said.

Drug education

Laconia Police Chief Matt Canfield said he’s in favor of better informing young people about drug addiction.

Last year, there were 146 overdoses in Laconia, nine fatal, and multiple overdoses that might have been fatal had they not been reversed with the drug, Narcan. Statewide, there were almost 500 overdose deaths.

“Once somebody is addicted to such a powerful drug, even if they enter into recovery, it’s a lifelong challenge,” Canfield said. “Why don’t we put more emphasis on preventing them from starting in the first place?”

Stiffer penalties

Trump called for stiffer penalties for drug dealers, including the death penalty for the biggest narcotics traffickers.

“Unless you have really powerful penalties, led by the death penalty for the really bad pushers, we are not going to get anywhere,” he said.

Canfield said greater penalties could be helpful in going after those who move drugs across state lines. He said drugs end up in Laconia after coming through Lawrence, Massachusetts, and originating in Mexico.

Trump called for a stronger Southern border and labeled Lawrence as one of the “sanctuary cities” that supply drugs across the country. He said such cities are in need of a law enforcement crackdown.

For his part, Belknap County Attorney Andrew Livernois said that, at least at the state level, existing drug laws seem sufficient.

“It’s a matter of catching them,” Livernois said. “We need to continue efforts to bring all tools to bear to catch the dealers.”

Treatment and recovery

Trump also talked about the need for improved treatment and recovery services for those battling drug dependency.

Livernois said the state’s criminal justice system has an active drug court program.

“Where we see the bottleneck is in the treatment facilities,” he said. “There aren’t enough beds. We need to get more people into the program. Funding is needed for community treatment centers. That’s a place where the federal government could help.

“There are waiting lists for bed space and people stuck in jail until they can get in a program. The other place we see issues have to do with making sure defendants have the necessary insurance in place to get into a treatment program.”

Democratic response

Executive Councilor Chris Pappas, a Democrat who is seeking election in the state’s 1st Congressional District, said Trump has repeatedly talked about fighting the opioid epidemic but the funding has been lacking.

“We deserve a commitment of real resources today that will support law enforcement and prevention, as well as our fragile network of treatment and recovery programs. The fact that we only have a bare bones framework, with no funding attached, is simply inadequate at this stage of the Trump Administration,” Pappas said.

Rep. Phil Spagnuolo, D-Laconia, a recovery coach, called for more policy details.

“It is concerning that it has taken this long for the president to propose a plan painted with broad strokes rather than specifics,” he said. “The plan fails to address key objectives, such as the need for greater funding and access to recovery community organizations and more treatment beds in New Hampshire.

“There are thousands of us in recovery who are passionate about helping those still suffering. We need the president to listen to us and create policy that reduces stigma and empowers us to help ourselves.”

U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster, D-New Hampshire, said the real test will be whether Trump is “able to put action to his words.”

“The constant message I hear in New Hampshire from law enforcement, treatment providers, the recovery community, and others is that we cannot arrest our way out of this crisis,” she said. “The Administration should focus on the areas where there is bipartisan support and work with both Republicans and Democrats for the benefit of the Granite State and communities across the country.”

Other voices

Gov. Chris Sununu was with Trump on his visit.

“As governor, I will always take the opportunity to advocate for our state, and today New Hampshire’s leaders showed the president our unique programs, which have the ability to serve as a model of best practice across this country. We were one of the first states into this crisis, but I have no doubt that we will be the first state out of it.”

Devon Chaffee, executive director of ACLU-NH, took issue with the president’s suggestion of employing the death penalty in the fight against drugs.

“This call for an expanded use of the death penalty comes just days after the New Hampshire Senate voted 14-10 in support of repealing the death penalty,” he said.

“The ACLU-NH finds the president’s suggestion that we are wasting our time unless we are executing drug dealers irresponsible and reprehensible. What the president failed to mention is that the death penalty does not act as a deterrent, does not reduce crime, and certainly does not help any of the New Hampshire communities reeling from addiction and the opioid crisis.”