Opioid Abatement Spending

At a glance

What: City spending of opioid settlement and abatement money on overdose response, the shelter and on site recovery services.
Where it stands: On September 1 Mayor Ruais and Director Thomas said August 2026 was the first month since the city began tracking in 2015 with no recorded overdose fatality. A public speaker on October 6 said September also had no suspected fatal overdose. Funding items were approved September 1 and October 6.
Next: Another Granite United Way grant decision for on site services; winter warming plan in October.

Mayor Ruais reported overdose reductions of 24 percent in 2024 and 30 percent in 2025, and no fatality in August. The City received about $307,000 in additional opioid allocation.
Abatement package (Community Improvement committee, then the Board): Mayor Ruais named five funded entities: the Community Health Worker team working with police; Hope for New Hampshire Recovery (half the cost of the Connections program while on site); Squad One (fire department); the Community Response Unit; and the shelter. A $106,395.33 opioid litigation settlement trust acceptance also passed.
Director Thomas credited layers phased in over several years: the ROAR team, the Community Response Unit (reaching people within 24 to 48 hours of an overdose), Squad One, Hope for NH Recovery and the Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester, plus a community effort that began around 2022 with help from the CDC. Narcan access also matters, along with a national push to reduce supply.
O'Neil asked about Squad One, which Mayor Ruais said runs three days a week; one extra weekly shift costs $45,000, included in the package.

Board approved $15,000 in opioid abatement money for a pilot at the Elm Street shelter (see Elm Street Infirm Shelter); Kantor opposed. Rodriguez said September was another month with no suspected fatal overdose, but a recent arrest took fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine off the street.

The Board accepted a reduction of $70,000 in the Opioid Litigation Settlement Trust project (Community Improvement report, Finance report, resolution enrolled).

$15,000 abatement grant for on site recovery services approved; a speaker cited September as another month without a suspected fatal overdose.

No fatal overdoses recorded in August; abatement package and trust acceptance approved.

$70,000 reduction in the opioid litigation settlement trust project approved.