ROCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — Kristina Amyot’s life has drastically improved since the last New Hampshire primary, but she isn’t confident the current candidates will help others achieve the same success.

Amyot, who is 36 years old, battled with addiction for over half of her life, particularly to heroin. However, she eventually found hope in Hope on Haven Hill, a comprehensive program designed for expectant mothers and mothers that offers residential treatment, transitional housing, and various forms of support. Presently, she is able to support herself financially and has a job, apartment, and cherished family.

“I will never subject myself to that again,” she stated in a recent interview. “I now value myself.”

New Hampshire, a small state with an outsized role in presidential politics, has heard from candidates promising action on the opioid crisis for several presidential elections now. And some of those closest to the problem here say they’re dissatisfied with how the Republicans competing in Tuesday’s primary have focused on the border and law enforcement instead of treatment and recovery.

I am uncertain if Amyot will participate in the upcoming presidential primary on Tuesday. This is partly due to her doubts that any significant changes will occur.

“It seems that every four years, the topic is brought up and then forgotten. We haven’t taken much action on it, and that needs to change because this should be a major concern,” she stated. “It is disheartening to believe that these individuals do not value our well-being.”

In the late 1990s, the issue of overprescribing opioid painkillers led to a drug crisis in the nation. As time passed, this crisis expanded to include heroin and fentanyl. Recently, fentanyl has been added to other illicit drugs without the knowledge of the users. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of opioid overdose deaths reached over 80,000 in 2022.

In 2015, New Hampshire had the second-highest rate of drug overdose deaths in the United States. Although the state has made improvements since then, the numbers have risen once again. The final number for 2022 was 486 deaths, which was only four less than the highest recorded in New Hampshire, a state with a population of approximately 1.4 million.

Kerry Norton, co-founder of Hope on Haven Hill in Rochester since 2016, stated that New Hampshire is currently experiencing a loss of at least one person per day due to substance abuse. She emphasizes the need to remember that this issue continues to claim lives and impact entire communities, generations, and relationships.

This week, Republicans on the campaign trail in New Hampshire have mainly prioritized preventing the flow of illegal drugs across the southern border of the United States.

Donald Trump, who previously referred to New Hampshire as a “drug-ridden nest,” has suggested utilizing the military to combat foreign drug cartels, an idea supported by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley. DeSantis has also advocated for shooting drug smugglers on sight, while Haley has proposed suspending trade with China until they cease exporting fentanyl, a synthetic opioid often linked to American deaths. Many experts accuse China of permitting the export of precursor chemicals needed to produce fentanyl.

However, according to Jay Ruais, a Republican who recently took office as mayor of Manchester, New Hampshire’s biggest city, that is just one aspect of the issue.

“We need to consider the demand aspect as well. How are we preventing it for students in schools? What measures are in place for those in need of more treatment? What support is available for those not currently receiving treatment? On the road to recovery, housing plays a significant role,” stated Ruais. “It calls for a holistic approach where we address every aspect from start to finish.”

Ruais shared during his own campaign that his experience with completing a court-ordered rehabilitation program in 2010, following a second drunk driving arrest, heightened his understanding and compassion for individuals facing addiction.

This matter is very close to my heart. It’s the reason why I ran for mayor in the first place,” he stated. “However, I strongly believe that any candidate who visits New Hampshire should address this topic.”

Following two major increases at the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, there was a 2% rise in drug overdose fatalities across the country in 2022, reaching nearly 110,000. In New Hampshire, overdose deaths had previously decreased significantly before the pandemic and remained stable in 2020, partially due to the implementation of a hub-and-spoke system known as “The Doorway.” This model involves collaboration between hospitals and local providers to connect patients with nearby services. However, the state saw a notable increase of 11% in 2022, with 486 reported deaths compared to the previous year.

According to Norton, the most important quality in a president is recognizing substance use disorder as a disease and addressing it as a public health emergency. She believes that punitive measures are not effective for those who are in the program due to trauma, abuse, and a lack of support.

“I do not possess expertise on the impact of border control,” she stated. “However, I am aware that providing access to affordable healthcare, housing, and fundamental rights and assistance will be beneficial in New Hampshire.”

In December, Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who headed a nonpartisan White House committee on opioid abuse during the Trump presidency, repeated this strategy when he revealed his national drug policy at Hope on Haven Hill’s health center. He did so a few weeks before exiting the race.

He stated that we require a method that acknowledges and contemplates the fundamental humanity of each of the 100,000 victims, as well as the potential contributions that they could have made to this nation.

Amyot, who was present at the event, was moved by that statement and intends to be present when Haley comes to the center on Wednesday. She believes that electing a female president could have an impact.

She expressed concern that the next four years cannot go on as they have been, as the current situation is dire and not being adequately addressed.