The announcement comes after criticism from Democratic Mayor Joyce Craig and Democratic senators that the state has not done a good job dealing with the opioid crisis one year into the $64 million effort, particularly with its contract with Granite Pathways.
Several ambulances were dispatched to Granite Pathways on River Road Nov. 25.
NH law says youth treatment centers like Granite Pathways can’t restrict teens from leaving the campus. One father whose son has been there says the law needs to be changed to protect the children.
The focus became youth at risk and the opioid crisis with the board designating $50,000 to Safe Station and another $50,000 to MPAL (Manchester Police Athletic League). That left $12,000 but the board decided to up that to $30,000 so that Granite Pathways, which operates the Youth Treatment Center at the John H. Sununu Youth Services Center, could get a van to transport the youth to various activities.
PART OF THE SERIES Editor’s note: Second part of an ongoing series of stories over the next several weeks by
The center will provide voluntary treatment options for young people ages 12-18 in need of in-patient treatment for substance abuse, the first of its kind in New Hampshire.
“In addition to the federal State Opioid Response funding that will serve new and expectant mothers as well as children and families involved with the child welfare system, the SUD treatment facility in Manchester is the first of its kind in New Hampshire to specifically focus on serving youths with a substance use disorder.”