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Dean Lemire, who is in long-term recovery, enjoys time with his family in Dover, N.H., during a recent National Night Out, an annual nationwide event that promotes strong neighborhood ties and improved community-police relations. (Photo by Cheryl Senter.)

Dean Lemire, who is in long-term recovery, enjoys time with his family in Dover, N.H., during a recent National Night Out, an annual nationwide event that promotes strong neighborhood ties and improved community-police relations. (Photo by Cheryl Senter.)

Chronicle of Philanthropy features Foundation work combating addiction

'New Hampshire Charitable Foundation Takes the Lead in Battling Opioid Abuse' traces the roots of the work, the partnerships that have made it so effective, and takes a look at what's next

The Chronicle of Philanthropy sent reporter Megan O’Neil to New Hampshire to report on the Charitable Foundation’s work combating the state’s drug crisis.

O’Neil’s report, New Hampshire Charitable Foundation Takes the Lead in Battling Opioid Abuse, was featured in the June issue of the national publication.

The article traces the history of the work back to New Hampshire chicken farmer Oliver Hubbard, who left his estate to the Foundation to fight addiction.

O’Neil writes:

 “Addiction five or six years ago would not have registered on the top 10 issues that voters, elected officials, and business leaders say are the biggest issues facing New Hampshire,” says Dick Ober, president of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, citing a poll conducted by the University of New Hampshire. “It is currently No. 1.”

That slow-building turnaround has intensified amid a national opioid-abuse crisis and widespread scrutiny of drug companies’ marketing and sales practices of highly addictive prescription drugs. But public officials and nonprofit leaders in the Granite State also credit two decades of advocacy work and capacity building powered by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation.

Read the full article here.