TORRINGTON, CT -- The Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation, the Foundation for Community Health, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, and the McCall Center for Behavioral Health have published a report, Beneath the Surface, The Opiod Epidemic in Northwest Connecticut, on the opioid epidemic and its impact on Northwest Connecticut.
In Northwest Connecticut:
- 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.
Almost 20 years ago, fatal overdoses surpassed motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of accidental death in Connecticut. Since 2013, Connecticut has surpassed the national death rate for drug and opioid overdoses, with over half of Northwest Connecticut towns reporting opioid-related deaths, including Barkhamsted, Hartland, Harwinton, Morris, New Hartford, North Canaan, Salisbury, Sharon, Torrington, Washington and Winsted. On average, two people die in Connecticut every day from an Opioid overdose
In addition to producing this report, our organizations are committed to applying our collective resources and strengths to work together to support current and ongoing efforts to address this epidemic.
Visit https://northwestcf.org/opioid to view the report.
For more information on the Foundation for Community Health, visit http://www.fchealth.org/.
For more information on the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, visit http://www.berkshiretaconic.org/.
For more information on the McCall Center for Behavioral Health, visit https://www.mccallcenterct.org/.
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.
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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