Rep. Lanoue Encourages Support for Matt’s Mission
On November 23, 2015, Kathleen Dufficy experienced something no parent should ever have to endure – the loss of a child. Her son, Matthew, passed from a drug-related accident after a long struggle with addiction. It’s a disease affecting people nationwide and it does not discriminate – no one is immune.
Approximately 1,000 people die each year in Connecticut alone as the result of an overdose. Fentanyl – a powerful opioid, far more potent than heroin or morphine – is one of …the biggest culprits. It’s a growing epidemic that requires a community-wide effort to bring it to an end.
To prevent further loss of life, Kathleen founded Matt’s Mission in her son’s loving memory. This organization seek to connect those struggling with addiction with treatment centers, rehabilitation and the support they need to recover and rebuild their lives. Kathleen and everyone at Matt’s Mission hope to end the horrible stigma associated with addiction by emphasizing healing over punishment and incarceration.
I thank Kathleen and Matt’s Mission for inviting me to speak yesterday, and I look forward to continuing to support their efforts while I am serving in Hartford. They have touched so many lives, and have brought immeasurable relief to countless people in our district and beyond.
To learn more about this great organization, please click here.