Facing a spike in fatal overdoses, New Haven officials are expanding the availability of life-saving resources-- and spreading the word about drugs laced with the dangerously powerful painkiller fentanyl.
Citing data from the federal government, the office of Mayor Justin Elicker reports that twelve people have died of overdoses in the city over the last two weeks. That's about three times the typical rate (about two per week).
Based on preliminary information, the city says crack cocaine combined with fentanyl is suspected. New Haven Director of Public Health Maritza Bond says it's now common to find fentanyl packaged with other drugs-- often unknown to users: "More than 90% of our drugs in the community are certainly laced with fentanyl. Currently, we're concerned that there's a mixture with crack cocaine."
New Haven is employing its "harm reduction rover," which carries the drug Narcan (which can reverse opioid overdoses). The rover and other resources are being primarily focused on the The Hill neighborhood (site of 4 of the 12 recent overdose deaths) and Prospect Hill (3 of the 12).
The city says that those in need of treatment can call (800) 563-4086, twenty-four hours a day, or go to connectgnh.org. Residents who use drugs are encouraged to find out what's in the drugs they plan to use: no-questions-asked testing takes place at the Yale-Community Health Care Van, at 270 Congress Ave., M-F from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm.
