Sen. Chris Murphy wants to boost efforts to seize fentanyl as CT sees the drug heavily contributing to accidental overdose deaths.
fentanyl
Posted inHealth
Fatal drug overdoses increased by 13% in 2020, with biggest increase during height of pandemic
There were 133 fatal overdoses in April 2020, compared to 86 in 2019 — a 35% increase.
Posted inHealth
Best of 2019: Blacks dying from fentanyl at same rate as whites for first time
Experts aren’t sure what is driving up death rate for blacks, but point to spread of fentanyl in inner cities and the state’s declining prison population as possible reasons.
Posted inJustice
Six Cheshire Correctional Institution employees test negative for fentanyl exposure
The Department of Correction initially believed six hospitalized prison employees had been exposed to fentanyl. The illnesses are being investigated by state police and DOC.
Posted inHealth
Blacks dying from fentanyl at same rate as whites for first time
Experts aren’t sure what is driving up death rate for blacks, but point to spread of fentanyl in inner cities and the state’s declining prison population as possible reasons.
Posted inHealth
CT docs say health information exchange would help fight opioid epidemic
As Connecticut residents continue to die from opioid overdoses at an alarming rate, several doctors agree that being able to share health records electronically across the entire state would help fight the epidemic. But a system to accommodate that sharing remains elusive.
Posted inHealth
Congress moves towards approval of massive anti-opioid bill
WASHINGTON – Congress is finally close to passing a comprehensive bill to combat opioid abuse, combining law enforcement and public health measures, including making addiction services more accessible. The massive bill, which includes provisions introduced by dozens of lawmakers, including Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, is considered a rare bipartisan accomplishment.
Posted inHealth
More ER docs turning to non-opioids to fight overdose epidemic
Emergency department physicians across the state are using more non-opioid treatments for conditions that historically have required powerful opioids for pain management, as they try to play a lead role in the overdose epidemic that kills on average 115 Americans every day. This change, coupled with other efforts, has resulted in a significant decrease in opioids ordered at emergency departments in at least two hospitals, Norwalk and Middlesex, from 2016 to 2017.
Posted inHealth
Fentanyl continues to drive deadly overdose epidemic
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner recorded more than 1,000 accidental overdose deaths for the first time in the last six years, and overall drug deaths in the state have nearly tripled in that time.
Posted inHealth
Opioid crisis deepens as Malloy again signs legislation to curb it
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed legislation Thursday aimed at curbing the growing opioid epidemic in Connecticut, days after the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner reported that an average of nearly three Connecticut residents are dying every day from accidental drug intoxication.
Posted inHealth
16 overdoses, two dead in six hours in New Haven
A toxic batch of heroin laced with fentanyl appears to have hit New Haven, with firefighters and cops rushing to rescue 16 different people who overdosed on drugs — at least two of them fatally — between 3:30 and 9:30 p.m. Thursday.