The general economy is still struggling to recover from the Great Recession. However, when it comes to alcohol and prescription drug sales we seem to be in a building boom. The New Hampshire Liquor Commission has been very busy remodeling and expanding existing stores, and adding new ones. The new stores on I-93 in Hooksett, both north and southbound, are massive, as is the new mega store in south Nashua. Likewise the stores at exit six in Nashua and Route 101 and 125 in Epping are “McMansion-like” facilities, as are the stores on South Elm Street and Route 3 North in Manchester. Many of the border stores like on Route 13 in Brookline and Route 31 in Greenville have been upgraded for out of state sales. In fact our liquor stores are major attractions because of low prices.
Some of the older liquor stores were seedy and unattractive, but do we really need a new liquor store that fills a whole former grocery store like the one on Route 101 in Peterborough?
But the real question is where are all the new treatment centers that we need?? At least 10 percent of all drinkers and other drug users get into serious trouble.
In fact alcohol-the liquid pleasure drug- is the most used and abused drug in our culture, yet in the Granite State, treatment resources remain very limited. In 2000 legislation was passed to dedicate 5% of liquor profits for prevention and treatment efforts, but the legislature keeps raiding the funds. In the 1980-90s there were over a dozen state-of-the-art treatment centers in New Hampshire, but then “managed care” put them all out of business. Since then we keep building more jail cells-the most expensive housing units on the planet.
And we keep building larger pharmacies that can contribute to our drugs other than alcohol problems. Milford, for example, has three Rite Aid stores and a recently built big Walgreen’s On Nashua Street CVS just finished a new mega store. Prescription pain pills, sleep aids and anti-anxiety medications often lead to serious drug abuse problems, including opioid drug addition. The mixture of alcohol and various prescription drugs can be deadly. Children and teens often have easy access to dangerous drugs because many adults are careless with their medications and alcohol.
Meanwhile New Hampshire has opened its forth marijuana dispensary. While pot can be helpfully medically, it is a fast acting mood and mind-altering drug. Thus it has a potential for abuse.
I like to drink a rum and Coke or two, perhaps three to four times monthly. I also take several medications, so I don’t have problems with our state or other people who sell alcohol and prescription drugs. However, we need to balance our priorities by making sure adequate prevention efforts and treatment resources are available.
Mike Beebe lives in Lyndeborough.