CONTACT
Brennan Ward
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 27, 2021 [CONCORD, NH] – The Rx Abuse Leadership Initiative (RALI) of New Hampshire today announced an important initiative to educate youth about the necessity of safe disposal to prevent substance misuse before it happens. In partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Central New Hampshire, RALI provided 100 safe disposal kits including educational information about safe disposal options in the home and community outlets throughout the state, and why safe disposal is so important to addressing and reversing substance misuse in homes across New Hampshire.
Unsafe exposure to medication is a subject of national concern, and recent reports looking at the past year of pandemic living have shown that there is significant work to be done to address and prevent substance misuse. Ninety percent of drug exposures reported annually to poison control centers happen in the home. It is important for families, schools and communities to work together on prevention strategies.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting those who are struggling with substance use disorder and those in recovery, and it is a critical time to educate people of all ages on how to keep loved ones safe,” said New Hampshire State Representative Steve Shurtleff. “We know that safe disposal is the first step in preventing substance misuse, and I am very glad to see community partners coming together to raise awareness about how to prevent addiction among our future generations.”
The Rx Abuse Leadership Initiative (RALI) of New Hampshire is an alliance of local, state, and national organizations committed to finding solutions to end the opioid crisis. As we continue to navigate the challenges of COVID-19 and its ripple effects, RALI continues to work to address the opioid epidemic and share important information about how many organizations across the state have continued to educate communities about substance misuse, promote prevention and support recovery through the COVID-19 pandemic.
To learn more about RALI, safe disposal efforts, resources and support in your community, and to tour the RALI CARES virtual trailer visit www.ralinh.org.
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The Rx Abuse Leadership Initiative (RALI) supports programs that help prevent the misuse of prescription medicines so that more lives can be saved from the opioid crisis. We do this by bringing together community leaders and elected officials who are committed to finding effective solutions and sharing ideas that will make a difference across the state.