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2026-11-10 16:42:04 -0500
To: Chief Justice Gordon MacDonald Executive Councilor Karen Liot Hill (District 2)
SAVE NEW HAMPSHIRE DRUG COURT: Preserve Funding and Protect Lives!
SAVE NEW HAMPSHIRE DRUG COURT
Preserve Funding. Protect Recovery. Keep the Opportunity Alive.
To the New Hampshire Supreme Court, Governor, State Legislators, and All Decision-Makers:
We are asking you to reconsider the proposed elimination of funding for New Hampshire’s statewide Drug Court program.
We are asking you to recognize that behind every number is a human being, a family, and a story of recovery that deserves to be heard.
I am writing this petition as a Drug Court graduate whose life has been personally impacted by this program. I know what it means to struggle with substance use disorder, and I know what it means to be given an opportunity to change.
Drug Court gave me structure, accountability, resources, and an opportunity to return to treatment when I needed it. It reminded me that recovery is possible, even when the journey is not perfect or straightforward.
I am not asking for people to avoid accountability. I am asking that we preserve a program that combines accountability with treatment and gives people a genuine opportunity to rebuild their lives.
WHY DRUG COURT MATTERS
New Hampshire has celebrated 1,000 Drug Court graduates. According to recent news coverage, approximately 300 individuals are currently participating in the program.
Those numbers represent people who have worked toward recovery, families who have experienced hope, and individuals who are trying to build healthier futures.
Drug Court provides an opportunity for participants to:
- Access treatment and recovery resources.
- Develop accountability and personal responsibility.
- Rebuild relationships with their children and families.
- Obtain employment and become productive members of their communities.
- Establish stability and work toward long-term recovery.
- Address the underlying challenges contributing to repeated involvement with the justice system.
We must also consider the financial impact. The recent reporting highlighted a comparison of approximately $15,000 annually per Drug Court participant versus $80,000 for incarceration.
We believe New Hampshire deserves a thorough evaluation of the long-term human and financial consequences of eliminating this program.
WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR
We respectfully ask New Hampshire’s leadership to:
- Reconsider the proposed elimination of Drug Court funding.
- Preserve funding for Drug Courts throughout the entire state of New Hampshire.
- Give graduates, current participants, families, and recovery professionals an opportunity to share their experiences directly with decision-makers.
- Review the program’s outcomes, financial impact, and contributions to public safety.
- Explore funding solutions that will allow Drug Court to continue serving future generations.
THIS IS ABOUT MORE THAN A BUDGET.
This is about the people who are still fighting for their lives, the families who want their loved ones home and healthy, and the communities that benefit when people are given the opportunity to change.
Not everyone understands what it means to live with addiction. But those of us who have experienced it understand how important the right opportunity, structure, treatment, and support can be.
We are bringing together Drug Court graduates, current participants, families, recovery professionals, and community supporters from across New Hampshire.
We want our voices heard before a final funding decision is made.
We are asking you to stand with us, sign this petition, share your story, and help preserve this opportunity for others.
A THOUSAND GRADUATES SHOULD NOT BE THE END OF THIS STORY. THEY SHOULD BE A REASON TO KEEP WRITING IT.
Please preserve New Hampshire’s statewide Drug Court program.
RECOVERY MATTERS. FAMILIES MATTER. OPPORTUNITY MATTERS.
Why is this important?
We need your voice because the future of New Hampshire Drug Court affects all of us.
I am a Drug Court graduate, and I know firsthand how important this opportunity can be. This program provides more than court supervision. It offers structure, accountability, treatment, resources, and an opportunity to rebuild a life that addiction has disrupted.
Behind every graduate is a story. Behind every participant is a family, children, and people who want to see their loved ones succeed.
We are bringing together graduates, current participants, families, recovery professionals, and community members from across New Hampshire to make sure our voices are heard.
You do not have to have personally participated in Drug Court to support this cause. You simply have to believe that treatment, accountability, and opportunities for recovery deserve to remain available.
By signing and sharing this petition, you are helping us demonstrate to state leadership that this program matters and that its future deserves serious consideration.
We cannot speak about the importance of recovery while allowing opportunities for recovery to disappear.
Join us. Share your story. Add your voice. Help us preserve New Hampshire Drug Court for the people who still need it.
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