Assisted living facility employees overdose; patients left unsupervised

EAST HAVEN — The only two employees at an East Haven assisted living facility were incapacitated Wednesday afternoon as they suffered from accidental fentanyl overdoses, leaving patients unsupervised, according to the East Haven Police Department.

A visiting nurse stopped by the Caroline Manor Assisted Living Facility on Clark Avenue Wednesday afternoon to check on one of her patients. She found the only two employees of the assisted living facility overdosing on fentanyl, according to Capt. Joseph Murgo with the East Haven Police Department.

The visiting nurse reported the possible overdoses around 3:07 p.m., according to Murgo.

A male employee was found on the lower level of the facility while a female employee was on the main floor. The narcotics were “left out and in plain view” when officers and fire department personnel arrived, Murgo said.

East Haven Fire Department personnel administered Narcan, which can treat opioid overdoses, to both of the employees before they were rushed to Yale New Haven Hospital for further treatment, according to Murgo.

Murgo said their conditions are unknown at this time.

Murgo said the facility did not have anyone else on staff during this incident. While this took place, “patients were left with no supervision,” he added.

No patients were injured during the incident, Murgo said.

The East Haven Police Department later seized the narcotics and is investigating the incident.

The state Department of Public Health, along with the East Haven Fire Marshal, conducted a surprise inspection of the facility in late August. Officials identified several violations at the time and scheduled another inspection for Oct. 6, Murgo said.

The Department of Public

Healt and the fire marshal, are coordinating a response and will further investigate the matter, Murgo added.

In 2020, there were 1,150 overdoses involving fentanyl statewide, according to data from the state Department of Public Health.

Those struggling with substance abuse issues can call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration national hotline at 1-800-662HELP (4357) for a free and confidential treatment referral or for more information.