BY DAVID PARKER
Thirty years ago, I started tutoring teenagers in Concord. Today, Parker Academy serves students from across New Hampshire, and I’ve had the privilege of getting to know thousands of families along the way. What started as academic support has grown into a community where we help young people overcome challenges and build on their strengths.
But over these decades, I’ve watched too many bright students struggle because of a family member’s battle with opioid addiction. A parent was unable to attend conferences because they’re in treatment. Teenagers missing school to care for younger siblings while mom or dad recovers from an overdose. These stories have become all too familiar.
In 2017 alone, our state experienced 424 opioid-related overdose deaths — an age-adjusted rate of 34 deaths per 100,000 persons, more than double the national average. While we’ve made some progress, we’re still losing far too many Granite Staters to a preventable crisis.
At Parker Academy, we teach our students that complex problems require searching for root causes. The root cause here is clear: When insurance makes opioids the cheapest option for pain management, patients get funneled toward addiction risk. The opioid crisis won’t be solved overnight, nor by any one action, but we can take a long step forward by putting non-opioid treatments on equal footing.
Our communities embrace practical, common-sense solutions. We already have the FDA-approved, non-opioid medications and alternative treatments. We have doctors willing to prescribe them. We just need to remove the financial barriers that make these safer options inaccessible for many.
Attorney General Formella recently announced a multi-million-dollar settlement with companies that fueled the opioid crisis. While these funds will help with treatment, wouldn’t it be better to prevent addiction in the first place? Ensuring access to non-addictive pain treatments would do exactly that.
Governor Ayotte has spoken passionately about ending the opioid crisis in our state. I urge her to use her executive authority to work with the Executive Council and NH Opioid Abatement Trust Fund & Advisory Commission to ensure equal access to non-opioid pain treatments for all New Hampshire residents.
Our students, their families and our entire community deserve nothing less.
David Parker is the founder and CEO of Parker Academy. He lives in Concord.
