New Hampshire Drug and Alcohol Statistics - World Forum for Mental Health

Statistical Data on Drugs in New Hampshire

New Hampshire faces one of the most severe drug crises in the United States, ranking among the top three states for drug overdose death rates. The state’s overdose death rate of 32 deaths per 100,000 residents is 54.59% higher than the national average. Particularly alarming is New Hampshire’s position as the second-highest state in the nation for opioid-related deaths. The crisis has evolved dramatically over the past decade, with synthetic opioids like fentanyl playing an increasingly dominant role. Between 2017 and 2020, fentanyl-related deaths surged by 1,590%. Despite some recent improvements, including a 12% decrease in overdose deaths from 2022 to 2023, New Hampshire continues to experience approximately one drug overdose death every day.

Overall Drug Overdose Statistics

Current Death Rates and Trends

407 overdose deaths annually
3.19% of all deaths are from drug overdose
Overdose death rate: 32 deaths per 100,000 residents (54.59% higher than national average)
0.58% of nationwide overdose deaths occur in New Hampshire
Recent trend: 6.31% annual decrease over the last 3 years
2023: 430 drug overdose deaths (12% decrease from 2022)
2022: 486 drug overdose deaths (36 per 100,000)
2021: 436 drug overdose deaths (31.7 per 100,000)
2019-2022: 1,656 total overdose deaths, with a 20.8% increase over this period

New Hampshire Current Death Rates Statistics

New Hampshire’s overdose crisis shows mixed signals. While the state experienced its first decrease in four years, the overall death rate remains alarmingly high at more than 1.5 times the national average.

Deaths by Year (2019-2022 Breakdown)

Year	Total Deaths	Age-Adjusted Rate (per 100,000)
2019	385	30.06
2020	379	28.81
2021	427	31.28
2022	465	34.50
4-Year Total	1,656	31.17

Historical Trends

2000: 3 deaths per 100,000
2009: 172 deaths (13.0 per 100,000)
2011: 15.3 deaths per 100,000
2018: 36 deaths per 100,000
2021: 32.3 deaths per 100,000
2000-2018: 953% increase in overdose death rate

The data reveals a dramatic escalation of the crisis over two decades.

Overdose Deaths by County (2019-2022)

County	2019	2020	2021	2022	4-Year Total	Age-Adjusted Rate (per 100,000)
Belknap	20	18	27	13	78	36.49
Carroll	13	11	15	17	56	33.64
Cheshire	18	16	17	25	76	27.60
Coos	5	10	19	24	58	53.81
Grafton	19	13	20	21	73	23.31
Hillsborough	135	131	143	173	582	34.60
Merrimack	37	45	45	43	170	28.57
Rockingham	70	75	53	73	271	21.53
Strafford	55	50	60	55	220	43.01
Sullivan	7	8	26	16	57	35.37

Coos County stands out with the highest age-adjusted death rate despite having fewer absolute deaths than larger counties.

Demographics of Overdose Deaths

Gender Distribution (2019-2022)

Gender	Count	Percentage
Male	1,105	70.3%
Female	467	29.7%
Total	1,572	100%

2023: Males accounted for nearly 70% of total drug overdose deaths
March 2023: 56% of drug overdose/abuse incident victims were male

Males are disproportionately affected, representing more than two-thirds of all overdose deaths.

Age Distribution (2019-2022)

Age Group	Count	Percentage
0-9	1-4	<0.5%
10-19	18	1.1%
20-29	265	16.9%
30-39	505	32.1%
40-49	342	21.8%
50-59	314	20.0%
60-69	119	7.6%
70-79	5-9	<0.5%
Total	1,572	100%

Additional Age-Related Data

2022: 30-39 age group accounted for 28% of all overdose fatalities
2018: 30-39 age group represented 32% of all overdose deaths
January 2019: 30-39 age group had 33% of EMS Narcan administration incidents
January 2019: 30-39 age group had 37% of opioid-related ED visits

The crisis primarily affects people in their prime working years (ages 30-59), who account for nearly three-quarters of all deaths.

Overdose Characteristics (2019-2022)

Route of Drug Administration

Route	Count	Percentage
Injected	465	29.9%
Snorted	388	25.0%
Smoking	224	14.4%
Other/Unknown	181	11.7%
Ingestion	33	2.1%

Evidence of Rapid Overdose

Evidence	Count	Percentage
No	1,196	77.3%
Yes	351	22.7%

Nearly three in ten overdoses show evidence of rapid onset, which reduces the window for life-saving intervention.

Opioid-Specific Statistics

Opioid Overdose Deaths

Current Statistics

New Hampshire has the highest rate of opioid overdose among all overdose deaths: 90.7%
2023: 385 opioid overdose deaths (31% of all unintentional injury deaths)
2023: Opioid overdoses accounted for 53% of unintentional deaths among ages 18-34
2021: 382 opioid overdose deaths (87% of total drug overdose fatalities)
2019-2022: 399 opioid overdose deaths annually
Opioid death rate: 30.2 per 100,000 residents (25.8% higher than national rate)
Synthetic opioids involved in 95.2% of all opioid overdose deaths
Prescription opioids involved in 6.3% of opioid overdose deaths

Historical Data

2017: 424 opioid overdose deaths (34.0 per 100,000, more than double the national average of 14.6)
2017: Age-adjusted rate for prescription opioid deaths: 4.8 per 100,000
October 2019-October 2020: 359 opioid overdose fatalities
2018-2020: 1.7% increase in opioid overdose deaths

New Hampshire has the highest rate of opioid involvement in overdoses nationally, with synthetic opioids (primarily fentanyl) accounting for 95.2% of opioid deaths.

Drug Type Involvement (2019-2022)

Drug Class	Count	Percentage
Opioids	3,174	69.3%
Cocaine	415	9.1%
Amphetamine	365	8.0%
Alcohol	195	4.3%
Benzodiazepines	153	3.3%

Additional Data

2023: 1,577 overdose deaths attributed to fentanyl (most commonly abused drug)
2023: 811 overdose deaths attributed to cocaine
2023: 63 overdose deaths attributed to heroin

Opioids dominate the overdose landscape, but cocaine and amphetamines also play significant roles, often in combination with opioids.

Fentanyl Crisis

2017-2020: 1,590% increase in fentanyl-related overdose deaths
2014-2017: Over 50% increase in fentanyl-related deaths
2022: 69% of drug overdose fatalities attributed to fentanyl
2022: Fentanyl-related deaths 1.4 times higher than in 2015
2017: Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids involved in 80% of drug overdose deaths
2013-2017: Synthetic opioid deaths increased from 30 to 374

The fentanyl crisis has exploded in New Hampshire, with a 1,590% increase in fentanyl-related deaths between 2017 and 2020.

Youth Substance Use Statisitcs (Ages 12-17)

Drug Use

7,000 (7.67%) used drugs in last month
5.65% more likely than average American teen to use drugs
2019: 10.1% of ages 12-17 used illicit drugs in last 30 days (ranked 39th nationally)
2017-2019: 10.6% (10,000 youth) used illicit drugs in past month
No significant change from 2015-2017 to 2017-2019
Higher than national average (8.2%), similar to regional average (12.1%)

Marijuana Use

11.09% used marijuana in last year
2017-2019: 9.1% (9,000 youth) used marijuana in past month
No significant change from 2002-2004 to 2017-2019
Higher than national average (6.8%), similar to regional average (10.8%)

Other Substance Use (Past Year)

Cocaine: 0.25%
Methamphetamine: 0.13%
Pain relievers: 2.09%

Substance Use Disorders

6.32% met criteria for Drug Use Disorder (DUD) in last year
2.76% met criteria for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) in last year

First-Time Use (2017-2019)

Alcohol: 10.5% (10,000) used for first time, similar to regional (11.5%) and national (9.3%)
Marijuana: 8.5% (8,000) used for first time, similar to regional (8.1%), higher than national (5.2%)
Cigarettes: 2.4% (2,000) used for first time, similar to regional (2.4%) and national (2.3%)

New Hampshire youth are significantly more likely to use drugs and alcohol than their peers nationally.

Young Adults’ Substance Use Statistics (Ages 18-25)

Drug Use

44,000 used drugs in last month
22.76% more likely to use drugs than average American in same age group
2017-2019: 8.0% (11,000) had illicit drug use disorder
No significant change from 2015-2017 to 2017-2019
Similar to regional (9.1%) and national (7.5%) averages

Marijuana Use

2017-2019: 45.7% (64,000) used marijuana in past year
No significant change from 2002-2004 to 2017-2019
Higher than national average (35.0%), similar to regional average (46.4%)
2017-2019: 5.5% (8,000) had marijuana use disorder
No significant change from 2002-2004 to 2017-2019
Similar to regional (6.7%) and national (5.6%) averages

Opioid Use Disorder

2017-2019: 0.5% (1,000) had opioid use disorder in past year
Decrease from 2015-2017 to 2017-2019
Lower than regional average (1.2%), similar to national average (1.0%)

Overall Substance Use Disorder

2017-2019: 22.0% (31,000) had substance use disorder in past year
No significant change from 2015-2017 to 2017-2019
Higher than national average (14.7%), similar to regional average (19.8%)

Young adults in New Hampshire show alarmingly high rates of substance use and substance use disorders.

General Population Substance Use Statistics (Ages 12+)

Illicit Drug Use

2009-2010: 12.15% past-month illicit drug use (national average: 8.82%)
2009-2010: 4.65% past-month use of drugs other than marijuana (national: 3.6%)
2017-2019: 16% reported using illicit drugs in past month
2017-2019: 2.9% (34,000 people) had illicit drug use disorder in past year
National comparison: Similar to regional average (3.4%) and national average (2.9%)

Marijuana Use

2017-2019: 20.9% (246,000 people) used marijuana in past year
Increase from 2002-2004 to 2017-2019
Higher than national average of 16.2%, similar to regional average of 21.4%
2017-2019: 1.5% (17,000 people) had marijuana use disorder
Decrease from 2002-2004 to 2017-2019
Lower than regional average (2.1%), similar to national average (1.6%)

Opioid Use Disorder

2017-2019: 0.8% (10,000 people) had opioid use disorder in past year
No significant change from 2015-2017 to 2017-2019
Similar to regional average (0.9%) and the national average (0.7%)

Overall Substance Use Disorder

2017-2019: 9.1% (107,000 people) had substance use disorder in past year
No significant change from 2015-2017 to 2017-2019
Higher than national average of 7.4%, similar to regional average of 8.7%

New Hampshire consistently shows higher substance use rates than national averages across multiple categories.

Treatment and Rehabilitation

Treatment Enrollment and Capacity

2019: 6,473 people enrolled in substance use treatment (single-day count in March)
2015: 8,164 people enrolled (21% decrease by 2019)
88 active substance abuse clinics in New Hampshire
6,473 patients treated annually for drug rehab
1 facility offers free drug rehab treatment for all patients

The number of people enrolled in substance use treatment decreased significantly from 2015 to 2019, dropping by about 21%.

Treatment by Substance Type (March 2019)

Treatment Focus	Percentage
Drug problem only	69.6%
Both drug and alcohol problems	20.0%
Alcohol problem only	10.4%

Drug problems dominate treatment admissions, with more than two-thirds of patients receiving treatment solely for drug issues.

Treatment Settings and Costs

Outpatient Treatment

4,982 patients enroll in outpatient services annually
Average individual cost: $1,855
Total public spending: $9.24 million (0.4% of U.S. total)

Residential (Non-Hospital) Treatment

883 patients enroll annually
Average individual cost: $58,777
Total public spending: $51.9 million (1.0% of U.S. total)
Ranks 40th for cost (among most expensive states)

New Hampshire Treatment Costs Statistics

Hospital Treatment

3 patients in hospitals for drug rehab. New Hampshire ranks as one of the most expensive states for drug rehabilitation.

Medication-Assisted Treatment (2015-2019)

Methadone

March 2019: 2,959 people receiving methadone in opioid treatment programs
2015: 2,748 people
Change: 8% increase

Buprenorphine

March 2019: 918 people receiving buprenorphine
2015: 1,991 people
Change: 54% decrease

The use of medication-assisted treatment shows mixed trends. Methadone treatment increased by 8% from 2015 to 2019, while buprenorphine treatment decreased by 54%.

Treatment Admissions (January 2019)

Monthly Changes (December 2018 to January 2019)

Opioid/opiate, Methamphetamine, & Cocaine/Crack admissions: 23% increase
Methamphetamine admissions: 83% increase
Heroin/Fentanyl admissions: 19% increase
Cocaine/Crack admissions: No change

Geographic Distribution (January 2019)

Coos County: 2.10 opioid/opiate admissions per 10,000 population (highest)
Merrimack County: 1.75 admissions per 10,000 population

Gender Distribution (January 2019)

More males than females admitted for Opioid/Opiate, Methamphetamine, & Cocaine/Crack use
Males: 60%
Females: 39%
Transgender: 1%

Recent Treatment by Substance (2022)

Heroin use: 168 individuals
Alcohol use: 117 individuals
Other opioids: 41 individuals

Treatment admissions show significant monthly volatility, particularly for methamphetamine, which surged 83% in a single month. Geographic variation is also notable, with rural Coos County having the highest per-capita opioid treatment admission rate.

Public Health Impacts

Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome

2020: 52.8 per 1,000 births diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome
2015: 269 babies diagnosed (24.4 cases per 1,000 hospital births)
2004-2014 National trend: Fivefold increase (from 1.5 to 8.0 cases per 1,000 births)
Equivalent to one baby born with symptoms every 15 minutes nationally

The opioid crisis has severely impacted newborns, with more than 5% of births in 2020 diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.

Infectious Disease Risk

Hepatitis C

2022: 3.1 new cases per 100,000 linked to intravenous drug use
2013-2016: 23,300 persons living with Hepatitis C (1,030 per 100,000)
National 2016: 68.6% of acute HCV cases indicated injection drug use

HIV/AIDS

2023: 2.2 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses per 100,000 connected to intravenous drug use
2015: 1,236 persons living with HIV (107 per 100,000)
National 2016: 9% of new HIV diagnoses attributed to injection drug use

Injection drug use creates significant public health risks beyond overdose, with hepatitis C rates far exceeding national averages.

Emergency Response and Intervention

EMS Response and Narcan Administration

EMS Presence (2019-2022)

EMS Present	Count	Percentage
Yes	1,115	70.9%
No	144	9.2%
Unknown/Blank	313	19.9%

Narcan Administration (2019-2022)

Naloxone Administered	Count	Percentage
No	695	44.9%
Yes	346	22.4%
Unknown	506	32.7%

Emergency Medical Services are present at more than two-thirds of overdose deaths, and Narcan (naloxone) is administered in about one-quarter of cases.

Opportunities for Intervention

Treatment History (2019-2022)

Treatment Status	Count	Percentage
No evidence of treatment	1,194	77.2%
No current treatment, but treated in the past	208	13.4%
Current treatment	144	9.3%
Unknown	1	0.1%

More than three-quarters of overdose victims had no evidence of previous substance use treatment, representing a massive missed opportunity for intervention.

Prior Overdose History (2019-2022)

Prior Overdose History	Count	Percentage
No previous overdose reported	1,334	86.2%
Previous OD within last month	69	4.5%
Previous OD, timing unknown	68	4.4%
Previous OD between 1 month-1 year ago	45	2.9%
Previous OD more than 1 year ago	31	2.0%

The vast majority (86.2%) of fatal overdose victims had no reported previous overdose, suggesting that many fatal overdoses are first-time events or that previous non-fatal overdoses were not documented or linked to services.

Economic Costs

2017: Per capita expenditure on fatal and nonfatal opioid use disorder overdoses: $5,953
This was 89.9% higher than the national average

The per capita cost of opioid overdoses in New Hampshire is nearly 90% higher than the national average, reflecting both the severity of the crisis and the high cost of medical care in the state.

Final Words

New Hampshire confronts a severe dual crisis: the nation’s second-highest opioid overdose death rate driven primarily by fentanyl, which saw a 1,590% increase in deaths between 2017 and 2020. The state experiences approximately one drug overdose death daily, with males aged 30-39 disproportionately affected, and more than three-quarters of victims had no prior treatment history. Despite a recent 12% decrease in overdose deaths from 2022 to 2023, the crisis costs nearly $6,000 per capita for opioid-related overdoses alone and continues to devastate families, strain healthcare systems, and claim over 400 lives annually.

Statistical Data on Alcohol in New Hampshire

New Hampshire presents a paradoxical alcohol landscape: it has the nation’s highest per capita alcohol consumption rate, yet simultaneously maintains the lowest rate of under-21 alcohol-related deaths in the country. The state generates nearly $800 million in annual alcohol sales, making it a significant economic sector. However, this high consumption comes at a severe cost: an average of 661 deaths annually are attributable to excessive alcohol use, with the death rate increasing by 55.5% between 2015 and 2019. The crisis particularly affects young adults aged 18-25, among whom 49.7% engage in binge drinking and 18.2% meet criteria for alcohol use disorder. Despite some positive trends, alcohol-related harm remains a critical public health challenge costing New Hampshire taxpayers over $1.2 billion annually when adjusted for inflation.

Overall Alcohol-Related Deaths

Annual Death Statistics

Total annual deaths: 661 attributable to excessive alcohol use
Death rate: 5.91 deaths per 10,000 adults
Per capita ratio: 1 death per 2,084 people aged 18 and older
Under-21 deaths: 1.7% of total (nation’s lowest rate)

New Hampshire Alcohol Deaths Statistics

New Hampshire experiences an average of 661 alcohol-related deaths per year, translating to nearly two deaths per day.

Demographics of Alcohol Deaths

Gender Distribution

Males: 69.7% of excessive alcohol use deaths
Females: 30.3% (by calculation)

Age Distribution

Ages 35 and older: 85.2%
Under age 21: 1.66%
Ages 21-34: 13.14% (by calculation)

Alcohol-related deaths disproportionately affect males and older adults.

Types of Alcohol-Related Deaths

Chronic causes (e.g., Alcohol Use Disorder): 59.9%
Acute causes: 40.1%

Nearly 60% of deaths result from chronic conditions like Alcohol Use Disorder rather than acute events, indicating that sustained heavy drinking over years is the primary mortality mechanism.

Years of Potential Life Lost

Annual years of potential life lost: 16,902 years

This estimate represents an enormous societal burden, equivalent to the complete loss of approximately 254 lives at age 65 or 423 lives at age 40.

Alcohol Consumption Patterns

Per Capita Consumption

Per capita consumption: 4.76 gallons per person per year

Highest rate of any state in the nation
Significantly higher than national average
127% above the 2020 public health target of 2.1 gallons (or less)

New Hampshire’s per capita alcohol consumption of 4.76 gallons per year is the highest in the nation and more than double the public health target of 2.1 gallons set in 2020.

Adult Binge Drinking Patterns

Overall Binge Drinking

18.3% of adults over 18 binge drink at least once per month
18.0% reported binge or heavy drinking (ranked 34th nationally)

Intensity of Binge Drinking

Median drinks per binge: 5.5 drinks
Top 25% most active drinkers: 7.6 drinks per binge (median)
Median binge frequency: 1.5 times per month
Top 25% most active drinkers: 4.0 times per month

New Hampshire Binge Drinking Intensity Statistics

Nearly one in five New Hampshire adults engages in binge drinking monthly, with the most active quarter of drinkers consuming nearly 8 drinks per binge and binging 4 times monthly.

Youth Alcohol Use (Ages 12-17)

Current Youth Drinking Rates

Past-Month Alcohol Use (2017-2019)

9.9% (9,000 youth) used alcohol in past month
Decreased from 2002-2004 levels
Similar to the regional average (12.6%) and national average (9.4%)

Binge Drinking

21% of New Hampshire teens engage in binge drinking
Significantly higher than neighboring New York State (15%)

Youth alcohol use in New Hampshire shows a positive trend, with past-month use decreasing from 2002-2004 to 2017-2019.

First-Time Alcohol Use Among Youth

2017-2019 Past-Year Initiation

10.5% (10,000 youth) used alcohol for first time in their lives
Similar to regional average (11.5%)
Similar to national average (9.3%)

Approximately 10.5% of youth tried alcohol for the first time in a given year, slightly above the national average.

Young Adult Alcohol Use (Ages 18-25)

Past-Month Binge Alcohol Use (2017-2019)

49.7% (70,000 individuals) engaged in binge alcohol use
No significant change from 2015-2017 to 2017-2019
Similar to regional average (46.6%)
40% higher than national average of 35.4%

Nearly half of New Hampshire’s young adults engage in binge drinking, a rate 40% higher than the national average.

Past-Year Alcohol Use Disorder (2017-2019)

18.2% (26,000 individuals) had alcohol use disorder
No significant change from 2002-2004 to 2017-2019
Similar to regional average (13.7%)
Nearly double the national average of 9.8%

The rate of alcohol use disorder among young adults is nearly double the national average , representing 26,000 individuals struggling with alcohol addiction.

General Population Alcohol Use Disorder (Ages 12+)

Past-Year Alcohol Use Disorder (2017-2019)

7.0% (82,000 people) had alcohol use disorder
No significant change from 2002-2004 to 2017-2019
Similar to regional average (6.4%)
Higher than national average (5.3%)

Seven percent of New Hampshire’s entire population aged 12 and older meets criteria for alcohol use disorder, representing 82,000 individuals.

Alcohol Treatment Statistics (2010)

1,638 people admitted for alcohol treatment only
1,166 people admitted for alcohol + secondary substance treatment

Total increase in drug and alcohol admissions: 6,234 (2010)

The treatment system serves thousands of individuals annually, with many requiring treatment for polysubstance use involving alcohol.

Drunk Driving Statistics

Overall Statistics

35 traffic fatalities per million licensed drivers
One of the lower rates nationally despite highest per capita consumption

2011 Detailed Data

27 people died in alcohol-related traffic accidents
49.6% decrease from 2001 (significant improvement)
86% of fatal accidents caused by drivers with BAC of 0.15 or higher
100% of drivers with BAC ≥0.15 in fatal crashes were repeat offenders
3,616 drivers arrested for DUI in 2011

The state has relatively low traffic fatality rates (35 per million licensed drivers) despite high consumption, suggesting responsible drinking practices in some contexts.

Economic Impact

Direct Costs to Taxpayers

Historical and Inflation-Adjusted Costs

2010: $959.9 million cost to taxpayers
2022 (inflation-adjusted): $1.296 billion
Per drink cost: $1.24 (in 2022 US dollars)

Annual Total

Annual cost: Approximately $959 million per year
The economic burden of excessive alcohol use is staggering, exceeding $1.2 billion annually in 2022 dollars.

Alcohol Industry Revenue

Annual alcohol sales: Nearly $800 million

While alcohol-related harm costs taxpayers over $1.2 billion annually, the industry generates only about $800 million in sales, resulting in a net negative economic impact when healthcare, law enforcement, and lost productivity are factored in.

Final Words

New Hampshire’s alcohol crisis is defined by a stark paradox: the nation’s highest per capita consumption, yet the lowest under-21 death rate, suggesting effective youth protection but dangerous adult drinking norms. Young adults face particularly severe consequences, with nearly half engaging in binge drinking and 18.2% suffering from alcohol use disorder. The economic impact is devastating, with 661 annual deaths (a 55.5% increase from 2015-2019), over $1.2 billion in taxpayer costs, and years of potential life lost exceeding 16,900 annually, creating a net societal loss that far exceeds the industry’s $800 million revenue.

Conclusion

In general, New Hampshire faces an unprecedented substance abuse crisis characterized by the nation’s highest alcohol consumption rate and second-highest opioid overdose death rate (90.7% of all overdoses involve opioids). The state’s young adults are particularly vulnerable, with nearly half engaging in binge drinking and over one-fifth struggling with substance use disorders—rates far exceeding national averages. Despite some recent progress, including a 12% decrease in overdose deaths from 2022 to 2023, the combined cost of alcohol and drug-related harm exceeds $1.5 billion annually, with approximately 1,100 deaths per year from overdoses and alcohol-related causes. The crisis demands urgent, comprehensive intervention targeting prevention, treatment access, and harm reduction across all age groups.