Naugatuck Legislators to Host Opioid Forum

HARTFORD – State Representatives Rosa C. Rebimbas (R-70) and David Labriola (R-131) will host a public forum, with invited guests State Senators Joe Crisco (D-17) and Joan Hartley (D-15), to educate and inform the public about the dangers and treatment options for opioid abuse and addiction.

In light of an increase in opioid use, abuse and deaths related to these drugs statewide, the forum will be held at Naugatuck High School on September 29, 2016, and bring addiction specialists, local prosecutors, medical personnel, and police and community leaders together to discuss the various aspects of addiction and recovery, and to answer questions from concerned citizens.

The forum is free and open to the public. Parents, their children, educators, community leaders and others are encouraged to attend to learn more about this issue and to receive important information and resources from public safety and medical professionals.

Jennifer DeWitt, Executive Director of the Central Naugatuck Valley Regional Action Council Connecticut Prevention Network, Mike Mitchell, chapter lead for Young People in Recovery (YPR) Cheshire, Waterbury State’s Attorney Maureen Platt, Waterbury Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Catherine Austin, DMHAS Commissioner Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D., Superintendent of Schools Sharon Locke, Naugatuck Police Detective Kevin Zainc, and Thor Huntley of Ford Pharmacy, will participate in the discussion.

What: Opioid Abuse and Addiction Forum

When: Thursday, September, 29, 2016

Where: Naugatuck High School, 543 Rubber Avenue

When: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

During the recently ended legislative session, the legislators voted to pass House Bill 5053 – An Act Concerning Opioids and Access to Overdose Reversal Drugs – which:

• Requires municipalities to equip and train their first responders to administer naloxone, an overdose reversing drug
• For adults, limits the number of pills in an opioid prescription to a seven-day supply
• For minors, limits the number of pills in an opioid prescription to a seven-day supply and requires the prescriber to discuss the potential danger of the drug with the patient and the guardian, if they are present
• Prohibits commercial health carriers from requiring prior authorization for coverage of naloxone

In 2015, more than 700 deaths were attributed to drug overdoses, more than double the number for 2012, according to the Office of the Medical Examiner.