EAST HAMPTON -- The opioid epidemic persists across the state, and so does the push to end it.
A meeting of community leaders and experts was held Friday to hopefully find ways to combat the spike in drug use.
The event was organized by state Rep. Melissa Ziobron, who serves Colchester, East Haddam and East Hampton.
Ziobron said the forum stemmed from two recent overdose deaths in East Hampton over New Year's Eve.
“Let me be clear we have a problem we've had some people overdose we've had people die,” East Hampton Police Chief Sean Cox said. “You might think as a community member, not my kids, not my friends, not my neighborhood. Well guess what? Heroin's cheap. What happens when the price goes up? There's gonna be a satellite effect it's gonna have an effect on you.”
Cox said the department is using all the tools it has to make sure this doesn't happen.
It wants to make it more difficult for dealers to conduct business in the community. This includes increasing DUI efforts, applying to become a drug recognition expert, and working with the superintendent to try and get more programs in schools.
Kim Richards, a parent of a recovering addict, said more attention needs to be focused on this issue at local schools.
"I think we need better education in the high school,” she said. “I'm all for recovering addicts like my daughter going into the schools talking to these kids about all that's lost.”
Her daughter, Brittany Richards, said she's on board. She never wants anyone to experience the loss she did.
“I lost my house, I didn't have my daughter for a while, I finally have her back now, and I was homeless for a while,” she said.
For Brittany, it started with Percocet after a C-section, which caused her to go doctor-shopping for more pills, and in no time, she was hooked on heroin because it was a less expensive fix.
Her mother offers tips to parents, telling them to pay attention and never think “not my kid.”
Rushford Medical Director Dr. J. Craig Allen agrees. He said if you can prevent your child from using drugs, alcohol or cigarettes before the age of 21, when their brain is fully or almost fully formed, than you have a really good chance that they will never develop a substance abuse disorder.
Dr. J. Craig Allen also said that all doctors need to also do their part.
"Before you prescribe a medication for pain that is potentially addictive and someone could overdose on it you have to check this website (Prescription Monitoring Program) to check, another doctor is prescribing that medication or prescribing another which might interact,” he said.
Speakers included the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Commissioner Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, East Hampton Police Chief Sean Cox, Rushford Medical Director Dr. J. Craig Allen, Regional Mental Health Board Executive Director Kristie Barber, East Hampton Prevention Council Irene Kuck and a parent of a recovering addict, Kim Richards.
Rep. Ziobron plans to post a full-video of the event on her website.