Fentanyl continues to be the top substance found in overdose deaths in the five-town area covering New Haven, Hamden, North Haven, Woodbridge, and Bethany.
According to a new report, each month, approximately 11 people in the area fatally overdose on fentanyl. Xylazine—a potent drug used in veterinary applications—is also on the rise as it is often mixed with street fentanyl. Unlike fentanyl overdose, which can potentially be reversed with Narcan (also called naloxone), no method exists to reverse a xylazine-involved overdose, complicating intervention response.
The report was funded by the CDC’s Overdose Data to Action program which supports comprehensive data collection to help local health departments plan and implement overdose prevention activities. It was compiled by DataHaven in partnership with the New Haven Health Department and the Quinnipiack Valley Health District, which covers the towns of Hamden, North Haven, Woodbridge, and Bethany. The report summarizes data trends related to overdose, substance use, harm prevention, and related metrics, and provides recommendations for overdose prevention. It can be found online at https://www.ctdatahaven.org/reports/overdose-data-action-2023-update. An earlier version of the report was completed in 2021.
Tags: Fentanyl New Drug Trend Opioid Epidemic Overdose Programs Research Study Xylazine
