Guilford Mom Wins Prestigious Award For Helping Combat Opioid Epidemic In CT

By Jack Kramer, Correspondent

GUILFORD, CT – The recognition for the work that a Guilford mother who lost her son to the drug overdose crisis that is plaguing Connecticut keeps piling up.

The latest award won by Sue Kruczek, who lost her son Nick to a heroin overdose at age 20, is the recipient of the 2017 United States Attorney’s Violent Crimes and Narcotics Unit Award.

In a letter Sue Kruczek received from Connecticut United States Attorney Deirdre Daly, Daly said that Kruczek was being feted ‘in recognition of your dedication and service as part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s HEAT initiative.”

HEAT (heroin education action team) is a group of law, mental health professionals and others, who go around to schools across the state talking to teens about the dangers of heroin, opioids and substance abuse.

The mission of the U.S. Attorney’s Heroin Education Action Team (USA HEAT) is to stop the spread of the opioid abuse epidemic in Connecticut by increasing community understanding of the dangers associated with these drugs.

USA HEAT is a partnership between the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut and families who have lost a loved one to an overdose.

Sue Kruczek has become one of the go to spokespeople on the opioid epidemic plaguing the state of Connecticut.

She was at the side of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy last May when he signed landmark legislation placing a 7-day cap on opioid prescription, a law sponsored by Guilford State Rep. Sean Scanlon, another politician that Kruczek has spent much of the past year with at events concerning the opioid crisis.

Sue Kruczek said: “It never gets easier going to talk about Nick and reliving what had been my biggest fear in life, finding him dead. It’s excruciatingly painful to relive. But when I get a beautiful email or letter from a parent or child telling me how Nick’s story saved their child – that he is also their angel I am ready to do it all over again.”

“I can’t begin to express how much we appreciate all of the time, energy, and passion you have brought to our opioid initiative. You have so much courage to be able to share your story, and we wanted to honor you with a small token of appreciation,” said Lori A. Vernali, Law Enforcement Coordination Specialist for the Department of Justice.

Sue Kruczek will receive her award at a ceremony at the aldermanic chambers at New Haven City Hall on Wednesday, June 14th.