Community Conversation Puts the Spotlight on the Opiate and Heroin Epidemic

Middlefield, April 28, 2016: Over 45 Durham and Middlefield residents came to the Middlefield Community Center to listen to panelists talk about the opiate and heroin epidemic in Connecticut, and in our community.

According to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, there were 723 drug-overdose deaths in Connecticut in 2015; compared to 174 in 2012. This increase is also seem in statistics around substance use, as reported through the 2015 Search Institute Survey administered to Strong School and Coginchaug Regional High School Students. In 2015, 10.6% of 12 graders reported using prescription drugs for non-medical reasons, compared to 4.5% of 12th graders in 2013. “The epidemic is here,” said Dr. Michael Kalinowski, a panelist and Middlefield resident, “we need to start helping our neighbors and take a serious look at prevention, intervention, treatment, and long-term recovery to become part of the solution.”

The Community Conversation, organized by the Durham Middlefield Local Wellness Coalition, focused on prevention and treatment of opioid addiction. “The purpose of the panel was to start a conversation and to offer assistance and resources to those who may need it;” said Stephanie Moran, DMLWC Prevention Coordinator, “we have to start somewhere, and recognizing that there is a problem, as a community, is the first step.”

DMLWC is coming up with a plan to start a support group for family members and friends effected by addiction. “Addiction in our community has been a family issue for so long, and we want the community to know that you do not have to go through it alone,” said Moran, “addiction is a community issue, and we are here to help.”

Panelists included, Dr. Michael Kalinowski – Family Physician, Jillian Griffin, LADC, LMSW – Director of Acute Services at Continuum of Care, Rich Figlewski – Director of Three Birds in Durham, Trooper Timothy Kendrick – Middlefield Resident Trooper, and Allan Griffin – Marketing and Outreach Representative for Granite Recovery Centers. All of the panelists have a local connection to the community.

DMLWC will continue to hold Community Conversations to help keep community members informed and to encourage collaboration and networking to help keep our youth safe, healthy, and drug-free.

The next Community Conversation on local student survey results will be on May 16th from 6:30-8pm at the Middlefield Community Center.

  For more information: www.dmlwc.org