Poll: Drug abuse most important problem in NH

When asked about the most important problem facing the state, 44% of New Hampshire residents identified drug abuse, according to a recent poll. 

The poll was conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center between January 31 and February 8 and included 505 randomly selected adults.

The second most important problem was jobs and the economy (11%), followed by education (8%), health care (5%), taxes (4%), and the state budget (1%).

Until 2015, poll respondents were more likely to pick jobs and the economy as the most important problem in New Hampshire.

Gov. Chris Sununu included additional spending on drug abuse treatment and enforcement in his recent budget proposal. House budget writers are in the process of drafting their budget bill, which then goes to the Senate. Gov. Sununu and many legislators have expressed support for increasing the percentage of liquor sales that go towards addiction treatment, but there are many other competing spending priorities, from funding for local road and school building projects, to salaries for additional child protection social workers.

What do you think is the most important problem facing New Hampshire? Let us know in the comments.