Heroin crisis plays out in headlines, homes

The

headlines are now ubiquitous, a continual reminder of the ever-growing number of families dealing with heartbreak in connection to Connecticut’s epidemic of heroin and opioid abuse. “State sees increase in newborns exposed to opioids” “3 overdoses, 2 ‘saves’ in less than 3 hours” Even as the state legislature debated a comprehensive measure aimed at curbing this scourge, individual tragedies continued to play out. “State police arrest Killingly woman with 700 bags of heroin in car” “East Lyme first selectman urges those facing addiction to reach out for help” The recent legislative action in Hartford is appropriately broad-based and seeks to attack the problem on several necessary levels. It would require all first responders to carry opioid-reversing drugs such as naloxone, also known as Narcan and limit physicians to prescribing a seven-day supply of first-time prescriptions for opioid painkillers. It would also require the state Alcohol and Drug Policy Council to develop a plan aimed at reducing the number of heroin and opioid-related deaths and mandate prescribers aid in reducing drug shopping by patients by consulting the state’s electronic drug-monitoring program before prescribing more than a 72-hour supply of a controlled substance.

We criticized Connecticut lawmakers and leaders in the past for being too slow to respond to the growing heroin crisis that is hitting our corner of the state especially hard. We now commend this legislation that if signed into law will take a leap forward in this fight. Accidental drug overdoses now kill an average of two people a day in the state.

“They’re digging graves in every town in Connecticut,” Rep. Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, said during recent House debate that was riddled with stories of personal tragedies. “4 arrested on heroin sale, attempted possession charges” “Two are administered Narcan in suspected overdoses” The lawmakers’ action is heartening, but it’s not enough. Addiction is not a simple problem. Anyone expecting simple answers and quick re- sults is being unrealistic. This fight will not be won by prescribers or police alone, nor by first responders, nor by drug counselors. It will take all their collective efforts and more.

Society has learned from previous disastrous attempts to arrest away the problems of drug abuse. During the urban crack epidemic in the 1980s, for example, whipped up hysteria fueled arrest and incarceration practices that did little to curb addiction, but left prisons full of non-violent drug offenders.

Law enforcement is part of the solution, certainly, but the target must be disrupting distribution networks. For the individual user, the emphasis should be on treatment and recovery. Those who do seek help and treatment for their addictions can face a long road full of trials and errors before finding the specific help that works for them. This is not a one-size-fitsall problem. “New London police respond to two overdoses Monday” “Three arrested in connection with heroin that led to Saturday Norwich overdoses” Needed are more big-hearted people such as Tamira Lanier, who organized a community forum in Groton last month. The forum emphasized strategic initiatives and intervention efforts aimed at reducing the heroin crisis. It brought together speakers from all facets of the community. Among these were representatives of hospitals and courts, treatment programs and social service agencies.

“We have to come together to combat this,” Lanier said.

Kenneth Edwards, an inspector with Office of the Chief State’s Attorney who attended the forum, said: “It has to be a community effort.”

That is why there is such an important role for groups such as “Community Speaks Out,” which is emphasizing that families that have been touched by the tragedy of opioid addiction join the effort to address it. Silence and misplaced shame will not fix this.

It is why this newspaper will continue to fulfill its responsibility to report on the opioid addiction epidemic and provide a forum for discussing a way forward.

Which brings us to a final word — effort. This problem requires varied and continued effort. Addiction will never be a problem that will be fully “solved,” but as a region, and as a nation, we have to do better, or the headlines will continue to haunt us and, more poignantly, so will the realities behind the headlines.