No Easy Answers To Drug Abuse, Forum Attendees Say

http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-windham-overdose-forum-0930-20150930-story.html

WILLIMANTIC — While reports of overdoses from heroin, synthetic marijuana and other drugs crop up in Willimantic, medical and addiction professionals agreed the complicated issues around substance abuse aren’t confined to the city lines.

At a forum hosted by Hartford HealthCare Tuesday night at Eastern Connecticut State University, professionals gathered to talk about the growing issue of overdoses and substance abuse throughout the region.

“We do see a significant volume of heroin and K2 abuse in Willimantic but we do see it on the college campuses, like here at Eastern or at UConn … and we do see it in the small towns like Scotland or Chaplin,” said Bill Muskett, manager of the Windham Hospital EMS program.

K2 is one of the street names for a synthetic form of marijuana. Willimantic police investigated at least seven overdoses of K2 over the summer.

Heroin deaths have also increased dramatically in Connecticut’s large cities and small towns in recent years, with more than 300 fatalities linked to overdoses in 2014, up from 100 in 2012, state records showed.

Muskett said emergency response personnel go into houses at 3 a.m., wake up overdose victims and bring them to the hospital — it doesn’t matter where.

Jim O’Dea, vice president of operations for Hartford HealthCare’s Behavioral Health Network, agreed.

“There are 169 towns and villages in the state of Connecticut,” O’Dea said. “There are people in every community who are dealing with these issues.”

Heroin has been an issue in the area for many years, but new synthetic drugs are also popping up in the region as they become available.

“There is no easy way to track what is in people’s body,” said Vicki Barbero, director of outpatient services at Perception Programs Inc. “K2 is new, they are changing it all the time.”

Muskett said it might not always be K2, but there are other similar drugs across the country, such as the stimulant called flakka in Florida, that may make their way here.

There is no specific type of person who’s affected, those in attendance agreed.

“This disease does not discriminate,” said Leah Russack-Baker, director of the Natchaug Hospital Quinebaug Adult program. She said drug abuse is seen in men and women from all professions.

“In order for change to happen we really do need to have uncomfortable conversations,” Russack-Baker said.

A solution, however, is not as easy.

“If there was one solution we would have figured it out already,” O’Dea said. “I’ve practiced in this area for 25 years, if there was one solution we would have found it, believe me.”

O’Dea said there are many resources, whether locally or on the state level, to help those facing issues with substance abuse.

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