AMERICA IS WATCHING NH GOVERNMENT, NOT IN A GOOD WAY!
"A responsibility of every American citizen to each other is to preserve and protect our freedom by recognizing what truth is and is not, what a fact is and is not and begin by holding ourselves accountable to truthfulness and demand our pursuit of America's future be fact-based -- not based on wishful thinking, not hoped-for outcomes made in shallow promises, but with a clear-eyed view of the facts as they are, and guided by the truth that will set us free to seek solutions to our most daunting challenges." said Rex Tillerson, Former Secretary of State.
STOP THE INSANITY MADE BY NH GOVERNMENT.
THEN JUST MAYBE THE STATE WOULDN'T BE SUCH A "DRUG INFESTED DEN" FULL OF ALCOHOLICS AND MENTAL ILLNESS MAKING THE NEWS
Recent attempts to change NH drinking law
FACT 1. New Hampshire has considered lowering the drinking age to 18 as recently as 2009.THEN JUST MAYBE THE STATE WOULDN'T BE SUCH A "DRUG INFESTED DEN" FULL OF ALCOHOLICS AND MENTAL ILLNESS MAKING THE NEWS
Recent attempts to change NH drinking law
FACT 2. In 2016, a proposal to lower the legal age from 21 to 18 died in the House.
FACT 3. In 2018, More recently, ONCE AGAIN NH now attempted to allow minors aged 18-20 to drink while in the presence of a responsible adult aged over 21, but it too was also shot down.
424 NH LAW MAKERS WHO ONLY ARE PAID $100 A YEAR ARE THE FOURTH LARGEST LEGISLATURE IN THE WORLD.
SEROUSLY? THIS IS THE BEST YOU CAN DO FOR TAX FREE NH?____________________________________________________________________
SAMHSA, Center for Behavioral Health
Statistics and Quality, National SurveyS
HEALTH BEHAVIOR BEROMETER FOR NH, 2015
2018 The Granite State is Hitting Rock Bottom
Statistics and Quality, National SurveyS
HEALTH BEHAVIOR BEROMETER FOR NH, 2015
2018 The Granite State is Hitting Rock Bottom
FACT 1. In New Hampshire, about 11,000 adolescents aged 12–17 (11.1% of all adolescents) per year in 2013–2014 reported using illicit drugs within the month prior to being surveyed. The percentage did not change significantly from 2010–2011 to 2013–2014.
FACT 2. In New Hampshire, about 31,000 individuals aged 12–20 (19.5% of all individuals in this age group) per year in 2013–2014 reported binge alcohol use within the month prior to being surveyed. The percentage did not change significantly from 2010– 2011 to 2013–2014.
FACT 3. In New Hampshire, about 2 in 3 (66.4%) adolescents aged 12–17 in 2013–2014 perceived no great risk from having five or more drinks once or twice a week—a percentage higher than the national percentage (60.9). The percentage of adolescents aged 12–17 in New Hampshire who perceived no great risk from having five or more drinks once or twice a week did not change significantly from 2010–2011 to 2013–2014.
FACT 4. In New Hampshire, an annual average of about 82,000 individuals aged 12 or older (7.2% of all individuals in this age group) in 2014–2015 had an alcohol use disorder in the past year. The annual average percentage in 2014–2015 was not significantly any different from the annual average percentage in 2011–2012.
FACT 5. In New Hampshire, an annual average of about 13,000 adolescents aged 12–17 (13.4% of all adolescents) in 2014– 2015 had experienced an MDE - Major Depression Episode in the past year. The annual average percentage in 2014–2015 was higher than the annual average percentage in 2011–2012.
FACT 6. In New Hampshire, an annual average of ONLY 5,000 adolescents aged 12–17 with past year MDE (41.2% of all adolescents with past year MDE) from 2011 to 2015 received treatment for their depression in the past year.
FACT 7. In New Hampshire, an annual average of about 57,000 adults aged 18 or older (5.4% of all adults) in 2014–2015 had SMI - Serious Mental Illness in the past year. The annual average percentage in 2014–2015 was higher than the annual average percentage in 2011–2012.
FACT 8. In New Hampshire, an annual average of about 105,000 adults aged 18 or older with AMI - Any Mental Illness (Only 49.3% of all adults with AMI) from 2011 to 2015 received mental health services in the past year.
FACT 9. In 2015, 10,658 children and adolescents (aged 17 or younger) were served in New Hampshire’s public mental health system. The annual average percentage of children and adolescents (aged 17 or younger) reporting improved functioning from treatment received in the public mental health system was lower in New Hampshire than in the nation as a whole. The annual average percentage for adults (aged 18 or older) was lower in New Hampshire than in the nation as a whole.
FACT 10. Among adults served in New Hampshire’s public mental health system in 2015, 45.0% of those aged 18–20, 27.1% of those aged 21–64, and 59.5% of those aged 65 or older were not in the labor force.
FACT 11. In 2014–2015, New Hampshire’s annual average percentage of adults aged 18 or older with past year serious thoughts of suicide was higher than the corresponding national annual average percentage.
FACT 12. In New Hampshire, an annual average of about 52,000 adults aged 18 or older (4.9% of all adults) in 2014–2015 had serious thoughts of suicide in the past year. The annual average percentage in 2014–2015 was not significantly any different from the annual average percentage in 2011–2012.
Source: SAMHSA, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, National Surveys on Drug Alcohol Use and Health, 2010–2012 to 2013–2015.
NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE HIDES JUDGES INJUSTICE FROM PUBLIC
FACT:13. "Portsmouth District Court special justice Sharon DeVries received the reprimand from the Judicial Conduct Committee in January 2009 for calling another judge about a pending case." (ANOTHER COMMON PROBLEM IN NH)
The newspaper says the written reprimand was discovered while researching JCC complaints. But it says that unless someone specifically knew DeVries had a complaint file and asked to see it, or was reviewing all JCC complaint files, the public reprimand would have likely remained a secret."
FACT 14. NH JUDICIARY ACCOUNTABILITY has been graded (F) for the past decade. According to complaints the previous 4 decades it was no better!
FACT 14. NH JUDICIARY ACCOUNTABILITY has been graded (F) for the past decade. According to complaints the previous 4 decades it was no better!
"If our leaders seek to conceal the truth and we as people become accepting of alternative realities that are no longer grounded in facts, then as an American people we are on a pathway to relinquishing our freedom," Former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in his first public speech after leaving the White House.
"If we do not as Americans confront the crisis of ethics and integrity in our society and among our leaders in both private and public sector, and regrettably at times even the nonprofit sector, then American democracy as we know it is entering its twilight years," Tillerson said.
"Never lose sight of your most valuable asset, the most valuable asset you possess: your personal integrity...This can be a very mean-spirited town. But you don't have to choose to participate in that."
"If we do not as Americans confront the crisis of ethics and integrity in our society and among our leaders in both private and public sector, and regrettably at times even the nonprofit sector, then American democracy as we know it is entering its twilight years," Tillerson said.
"Never lose sight of your most valuable asset, the most valuable asset you possess: your personal integrity...This can be a very mean-spirited town. But you don't have to choose to participate in that."
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"Alcohol Consumption Problem in N.H., Not Just Heroin
2014
By We Believe
Alcohol and Drug Addiction Center
By We Believe
Alcohol and Drug Addiction Center
Carbondale, PA
But that’s not the Granite State’s only substance abuse issue – not by a long shot.
Two years ago, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) issued a report (2012) which placed New Hampshire at #1 for amount of alcohol consumed per capita.
How Bad Is It?
At 4.65 gallons per capita consumption of ethanol, it was nearly twice the national average – 2.33. In fact, five New England states ranked in top 20, including Vermont, Delaware, Maine, and Rhode Island. Connecticut came it at #26, which is baffling considering how conservative their alcohol consumption laws are.
The report compared sales data for alcoholic beverages with the 14+ population for all states, including Washington D.C., to account for underage alcohol consumption. Sales for beer, wine, and spirits were converted to estimate pure alcohol content.
In 2010, a plan was created by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Safety entitled Healthy People 2020. The goal of this plan is to promote health and increase disease prevention. It set the nationwide target for per capital alcohol consumption at 2.1 gallons. To hit that goal, that’d be quite a substantial alcohol consumption reduction in N.H.
Wine and spirits are preferred over beer, which means that New Hampshire residents are consuming drinks with a greater alcohol content than average. For example, in the U.S., beer makes up about half the alcohol consumption nationwide. In New Hampshire, however, it’s only 41%. This fact is partially what puts New Hampshire so high on the list.
On the positive side, however, drunk driving statistics seem to be steadily improving.
What is Heavy Drinking? What are the Dangers?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heavy drinking is 8 or more drinks per week for women, and 15 or more for men. Heavy drinking is the #3 cause of preventable death.
1 in 10 deaths among age 20-64 are due to excessive drinking – moreover, that’s about 88,000 fatalities. And most – about 70% – are men.
Also according to the CDC, a standard “drink,” is 12 oz. of beer, 8 oz. of malt liquor, 5 oz. of wine or 1.5 oz, of 80-proof liquor.
Heaving drinking may contribute to chronic diseases, including conditions of the throat, larynx esophagus, pancreas, stomach, and liver. It pretty much wreaks havoc on the entire digestive system – nothing is immune to its effects. It may also cause high blood pressure and increases the risk of heart-related diseases (cardiomyopathy).
House Bill 1616 Would Decrease the Legal Drinking Age
Meanwhile, A Seabrook state representative, Max Abramson (R) is looking to allow limited underage drinking. This would mean that 18-20 years could drink if in the presence of someone over the age of 21.
His position is that the legislation would increase the number of underage persons who are drinking responsibly. Indeed, teenage alcoholism is less prevalent in those countries with lower drinking ages, at least when compared to the United States.
The bill would make a .05 BAC legal for persons under 21, so binge drinking and intoxication still illegal. And the bill would only apply to beer and wine, not liquor.
Generally speaking, law enforcement doesn’t care much for the bill. For example, Hampton Chief Richard Sawyer stated he is against lowering the legal drinking age:
“I think it’s ridiculous, Any study will show you that the number of fatalities and tragedies based on alcohol consumption by people in that age group goes up when they’re allowed to drink. In my opinion, if we allow a law like this, we will see increasing instances of fatalities and tragedies.”
Commentary
Since the nationwide legal drinking age turned 21, there’s been a lot of complaints about what 18-year-old adults should or shouldn’t do. An example often used is that an 18-year-old can serve in the military and die for their country, but they can’t have a beer.
I’m not sure what the answer is, but given New Hampshire’s high rate of alcohol consumption, lawmakers should probably tread lightly. I find it a bit odd that this bill comes amidst the haze of all this substance abuse.
~ G. Nathalee Serrels, M.A., Psychology
Related: Delaware Supports Improved Rehab for Juvenile Offenders"
