InterCommunity Health Care Response To Overdose Death Statistics.

InterCommunity Health Care, which operates the largest detox facility in the State of Connecticut, wants people to know that beds are available at its detox and recovery center in Hartford. This message comes in response to the latest statistics that show Connecticut still has a ways to go in fighting the opioid epidemic.

“While the numbers show a slight decline overall, we don’t want people to think that this is no longer an issue,” said Kimberly Beauregard, President and CEO of InterCommunity Health Care. “The cities are still taking a hit, and so are the suburbs.”

According to the 2018 statistics recently released by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Waterbury had the most overdose deaths, 68, followed by Hartford (62), Bridgeport (58), New Britain (43), and New Haven (41). However, suburbs like East Hartford and West Hartford had the highest ratio of deaths to the number of residents with East Hartford at 16.27 overdose deaths per 10,000 residents. West Hartford had 15.81 deaths, East Hampton 8.85 and Torrington at 7.24.

“This shows the opioid epidemic is very much a problem in every neighborhood, every town and every city,” Beauregard said. “We need to keep this issue on the forefront or else, we could lose the traction we have gained by educating people about the dangers of opioids. From West Hartford to Torrington, and Bridgeport to East Hampton, people are dying from opioids.”

Overall, 1017 people died from an accidental drug overdose in 2018, 21 fewer people than the year prior. Out of those deaths, 948 involved opioids, and 760 involved fentanyl, an extremely deadly synthetic opioid making its way into Connecticut.

PARTNERING WITH LOCAL POLICE

InterCommunity is working to expand its Pad Program with local police departments and first responders who encounter those struggling with addiction. The Pad Program is a simple way to reach those who need help. Police officers carry these pads with them and hand out information to those who need help.

“It’s a real simple way to reach people who need our help, and it works.” Beauregard said. “Police officers and EMS workers don’t have to look through their phones for our information, it’s all right there on a sheet of paper they can simply hand-out to the person or family who needs our help.”

East Hartford’s Police Chief Scott M. Sansom says the “Pad Program” is a great idea and really helpful.

"We will not overcome this opioid crisis without a multi-level response, and law enforcement understands that simply arresting victims of addiction will not solve an epidemic,” said Chief Sansom. “We’re fortunate to have a long-standing partnership with InterCommunity Health Care, and have found the Pad Program to be an easy way to offer help to those struggling, or to those who know someone struggling with addiction.”

If you would like to partner with us on this program, please call our main office at 860-569-5900 and ask for our community affairs manager Christina Lessard.

• InterCommunity Health Care never turns any one away because of their financial situation or inability to pay. Our mission is to help people improve their quality of life by providing physical, mental health and addiction services for optimum health and recovery.
• If you need help with the disease of addiction, call us 24/7 at 860-569-5900 ext. 515.