International Overdose Awareness Day Is Aug. 31

From the Town of Glastonbury:

August 26, 2020

International Overdose Awareness Day is a global event which is held on August 31st to help raise awareness of overdose and to help reduce stigma of substance use related deaths. If you or someone you know is currently struggling with a substance use disorder, please know that you are not alone and help is available.

Here in Connecticut, the Department of Mental Health And Addiction Services has opened up a 24/7 Access Line to help facilitate access to treatment for substance use disorders. The Access Line will help you find treatment to a detox or a residential program - transportation can also be arranged to and from these facilities. Please contact the Access Line 1-800-563-4086 for more information.

Overdose is preventable and we are urging community members who may be prescribed any type of opioid to have narcan at home in case of an accidental overdose. We are also urging community members who may know someone who has a substance use disorder to have narcan available. Most insurance companies will cover narcan at the pharmacy for free. Please visit the Naloxone Pharmacies website for a map of local pharmacies here in Glastonbury that can provide narcan.

If you would prefer not to visit the pharmacy to obtain narcan, The Greater Hartford Harm Reduction Coalition located in Hartford provides narcan education as well as free narcan to anyone who is in need. Please contact the facility at 860-263-8720 or visit Greater Harford Harm Reduction for further information.

Glastonbury Youth & Family Services urges residents to dispose of all medications that are no longer needed by using the Prescription Drop Box, located in the main lobby of the Glastonbury Police Department (2108 Main Street). The drop box can be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Support groups and other resources are also available for families who may have a family member with a substance use disorder. For further questions or information please contact the Glastonbury Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator, Mirela Mujcinovic at Youth & Family Services at 860-652-7531 or Mirela.Mujcinovic@glastonbury-ct.gov. Please note, you can remain anonymous during the phone call - no information will be collected or stored unless you request a follow up. Please share these resources with anyone you believe may find them helpful.

This press release was produced by the Town of Glastonbury. The views expressed are the author's own.