Child Maltreatment
In order for New Hampshire children to thrive, they must be safe at home.
- In 2020, there were 1,193 substantiated victims of child maltreatment in New Hampshire, including 259 in Hillsborough county and 208 in Strafford county. Of these children, 38% were four or younger, while an additional 31 percent were aged 5-10.
- In New Hampshire, 85 percent of child maltreatment victims are victims of neglect. An additional 10 percent are victims of physical abuse, while another eight percent are victims of sexual abuse.
- Children thrive in environments where they feel safe, stable, and bonded to their family. Children in the child welfare system have suffered at least one adverse childhood experience. The more adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) a child faces, the greater the risk for poor physical and mental heath, substance use, and risky behaviors in adulthood.
Substance Misuse
The number of parent and guardian deaths in cases involving DYCF more than doubled from 2021 to 2022 from 18 to 40. The leading causes of death are overdose, natural causes, suicide, and homicide.
Bullying
Social media and online bullying are negatively impacting youth in New Hampshire.
- More than one in five teens in New Hampshire has experienced bullying online. Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, computers, and tablets. Cyberbullying can occur through SMS, Text, and apps, or online in social media, forums, or gaming where people can view, participate in, or share content.
- Social media can be harmful because it encourages constant comparison and limits in-person communication, often leading to increased feelings of depression, anxiety, poor body image, and loneliness.
- A 2019 study found that adolescents who spend more than three hours per day on social media may be at heightened risk for mental health problems, particularly internalizing problems.
Solving problems through policy change.
At New Futures, we know that the best way to solve the opioid crisis is to prevent substance use from ever happening in the first place. That's why we advocate for funding for the state's Alcohol Abuse, Prevention & Treatment Fund (“Alcohol Fund”), which funds prevention programs in New Hampshire.
Substance Use
New Hampshire teens reported less substance use during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- In 2019, nearly one-third of New Hampshire teens (32.7 percent) were currently using electronic vaping products. Two years later, only 18 percent of teens reported current vaping usage. This is consistent with a decline in the reported use of most forms of drugs during the pandemic. Cigarette use has also declined to an all-time low, with only 3.8 percent of teens reporting that they currently smoke.
- Despite overall pandemic declines, more than one in five teens still reported currently using alcohol. 11.2 percent of teens reported binge drinking within 30 days of taking the survey, while 10 percent reported having their first alcoholic drink before the age of 13.
- In 2021, 15.8 percent of teens were currently using cannabis products. About 1 in 10 cannabis users will develop a substance use disorder. For people who begin using before the age of 18, that number rises to 1 in 6.
