A deepening crisis
As New Haven copes with nearly 80 overdoses since Tuesday night, officials say Fairfield County first responders are treating an increasing number of ODs
Following a string of nearly 80 K2 overdoses on the downtown New Haven Green, the city saw more cases arise Thursday.
New Haven officials said 17 more overdoses had occurred as of Thursday evening, though it is not known yet whether the substance was the same as the K2 that caused the overdoses over the previous 36 hours.
“I think this is a lot more than we have normally seen. We’ve had a couple of those outbreaks, but not to this level,” city Office of Emergency Management Director Rick Fontana said about the cases that began Tuesday night.
Emergency personnel were run ragged Wednesday as crews responded to a
total of 76 overdoses — 72 were taken to the hospital.
Nationally, overdose deaths reached a record level of 72,000 in 2017, according to a recent federal report, The Associated Press reported. In Connecticut, 3,090 visits to hospital emergency rooms for suspected drug overdoses were reported between January and April, Hearst Connecticut Media has reported.
During a news conference Thursday, New Haven Mayor Toni N. Harp praised the response of fire, police and other emergency responders for their lifesaving efforts.
“The city’s response to this emergency has been exemplary,” she said.
“We know that it is a chronic, relapsing disease,” Harp said of drugs. “We also know this is happening nationwide.”
Several local officials in Fairfield County said Thursday that treating overdoses has become an increasing part of the job for first responders.
Danbury Police Chief Patrick Ridenhour said while Danbury has yet to see increased use of synthetic marijuana such as K2, police are in contact with New Haven officials about the issue.
“I want to know what they are dealing with so we can keep an eye for it on this end,” he said Thursday.
Ridenhour said a person died of an overdose in Danbury on Tuesday, which, according to city records occurred at the Quality Inn and Suites on Federal Road.
The death is under investigation and information on the drug involved was not immediately available.
Allison Fulton, executive director of the Bethel-based Housatonic Valley Coalition Against Substance Abuse, said while K2 or “spice” as its often referred to, may be illegal in the state, she still sees it from time to time on convenience store shelves.
“It’s not supposed to be sold, but I still see it around,” she said. “Some business owners apparently aren’t aware that it’s illegal.”
She said more focus needs to be placed on providing resources for overdose victims.
“I’ve seen stories from New Haven where some of the victims have been revived in the emergency room two or three times in one day,” she said. “That shouldn’t be happening. We need to bring more attention to how the system works and make sure people are getting the information and resources they need.”
While Danbury Hospital has a program to offer resources to those with addiction issues, Fulton said, more such efforts need to be undertaken throughout the state.
Between January 2017 and Wednesday, Trumbull first responders had 18 cases classified as overdoses, town Police Capt. Keith Golding said.
“In 2016, there were a lot of cases of ODs caused by fentanyllaced heroin, but fortunately those number have gone down,” Golding said.
In Milford, the city’s Prevention Council said first responders used Narcan about 80 times in 2017.
Tammy Trojanowski, who administers Stratford’s Drug-Free Communities Grant, said the town “is not immune” to overdoses and addiction, specifically referring to opioids.
“We’ve installed a medication drop-box at the Police Department that’s open 24/7, and response has been fantastic,” she said. “We publish information on how to talk to your kids about prescription drug safety, and we have a support group … for families that are struggling with this problem.”
Should Bridgeport see any kind of mass-overdose incident, similar to the one in New Haven, first responders are ready, officials said Thursday.
“We would bring in the health department immediately,” Police Chief Armando Perez said.
Along with the health department, the city’s Emergency Operations Center would kick into highgear and immediately evaluate the situation, constantly touching base with any necessary agencies and spreading the word.
But when it comes to K2, the substance hasn’t been an issue in Bridgeport since 2011, Perez said. He said a major concern with synthetic marijuana is how it’s made.
“It’s a substance that is created,” he said. “They add chemicals, but they’re not chemists. It can be deadly.”
Bridgeport is working to outfit the entire police force with the overdose-reversal nasal spray, Narcan, said Police Capt. Brian Fitzgerald. All city fire department vehicles already have Narcan supplies, which are replenished when needed.
Fitzgerald said overdoses in Bridgeport are fairly common, estimating the number at roughly two a day.
In New Haven, at least two men, who are not being named at this time, were arrested in connection with the overdoses and have been known to sell K2 in the past, city Police Chief Anthony Campbell said.
Only a small percentage of the patients admitted to the hospital in New Haven had fentanyl in their systems, Fontana said. He said it was likely ingested from a separate injection.
Many victims told police were given free samples of K2, and Campbell said he thinks one of the men was trying to get people addicted to establish a clientele.
“We will have a continued presence on the New Haven Green, both today and in the days to come, to ensure that no further victims can purchase, or no further sales can be done (there),” Campbell said.
Douglas Gerald said he was sitting on a park bench when he looked over his shoulder and saw two people on the ground.
“I happened to look over and saw them passing out, so I ran and got help. They were shaking and holding onto each other, so I figured it was K2-related,” he said.
Douglas said it was scary to see them like that. “People have got to be careful what they use today. They have to be careful,” he said.