As the number of opioid-related drug overdoses grows throughout the country, an article recently published in The New York Times spotlights one small town in New Hampshire, and the work being done by one man to help slow the epidemic.

Eric Adams, former law enforcement official, now works for the local Drug Task Force as a Prevention, Enforcement, and Treatment Coordinator. The title is important because it highlights the shift being made nationwide in the attitudes toward drug offenders by law makers and police officials who are seeing an exponentially high number of opioid and opiate related deaths.  Eric Adams is one of the first people in the United States to have a job title that enforces the idea of addiction and substance abuse as a disease to be treated rather than just a crime to be imprisoned for. By shining a light on Eric Adams’ story, the article details the struggles, progress, and obstacles faced in the continuing fight against illegal drug use in America.