TORRINGTON, CT -- The CTV191 show Focus, hosted by Jim MacGillavry, will have a live call-in session to take your questions about opioids on Tuesday, September 19 from 7:30 - 8:30 p.m.
The event will feature members of the Litchfield County Opiate Task Force, including Maria Coutant-Skinner, Executive Director of McCall Center for Behavioral Health and John Simoncelli, Executive Director of Greenwoods Counseling Referrals, as well as Julie Scharnberg, Grants and Program Director at the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation and collaborator on the report “Beneath the Surface: The Opioid Epidemic in Northwest Connecticut.”
The number to call is 860-238-7518. Questions can also be submitted via the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation’s Facebook page.
The Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation, in conjunction with the Foundation for Community Health, the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, and the McCall Center for Behavioral Health recently published a report on the opioid epidemic’s impact on Northwest Connecticut. Among the findings:
- From 2007 to 2010, arrests for Drug/Narcotic Violations and Drug Equipment Violations in Northwest Connecticut increased by 23.5%.
- Between 2012 and 2016, admissions to Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services for Opioid addiction treatment have increased by 110% with a 90% increase in new clients.
Over half of Northwest Connecticut towns have reported opioid-related deaths. Since 2013, Connecticut has surpassed the national death rate for drug and opioid overdoses and an average of two people die in Connecticut every day from an Opioid overdose.
Visit https://northwestcf.org/opioid to view the report.
About McCall Center for Behavioral Health
McCall seeks to alleviate the pain and human suffering brought about by substance abuse by providing comprehensive, integrated substance abuse and mental health treatment to help people lead healthier and more productive lives. We're a private, non-profit, behavioral healthcare agency focused on recovery, prevention and community. But, more than that, we're a group of dedicated professionals who are passionate about helping the people of our community. The people we serve are at the heart of everything we do. Every program, service and decision we make is centered around them and their wellness. We provide a full range of alcohol and other drug prevention and treatment services.
About Greenwoods Counseling Referrals
Greenwoods Counseling Referrals, Inc. is the face of help in Litchfield County and the first stop on the road to peace of mind. We offer clinical assessments and referrals for individuals and families who don’t know where to turn when struggling with emotional, behavioral, or psychological stress. In 1992, witness to difficulties accessing social and mental health services and inspired by programs that bring volunteer mental health care professionals together, Rev. W. David Dobbins founded Greenwoods. From the beginning, Greenwoods Counseling Referrals has served thousands of individuals and families. Greenwoods is unique among other agencies in that we have a broad array of service professionals to provide help for even the most complicated problems. Named after the county’s lush, pine-crowned hills, Greenwoods is a nonprofit agency serving individuals and families who live and/or work in Litchfield County. The mission of Greenwoods is to support the mental health and wellness of our community through enhanced access to high quality behavioral health and social services.
Established in 1969, the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation serves 20 towns in Northwest Connecticut. Its total endowment, comprised of more than 250 funds, has grown from initial assets of $15,000 to more than $94 million. Last year, combined grants and scholarships totaled more than $3 million.
###
Contacts:
Nicole Carlson Easley
Communications Director
Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation
860-626-1245
neasley@northwestcf.org
Christina Tranquillo
Program and Communications Associate
Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation
860-626-1245
ctranquillo@northwestcf.org
Website: www.northwestcf.org