Tuesday, October 3, 2017
New London, CT – October 3, 2017 – Lawrence + Memorial Hospital today announced it was providing funding for a supply of Narcan, the drug used to treat victims of an opioid overdose, to 11 local communities.
Municipalities and governments receiving the supply from hospital funding include East Lyme, Groton City, Groton Long Point, Groton Town, Ledyard, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, Mohegan Tribal Nation, Montville, New London, Stonington and Waterford.
The hospital is investing approximately $10,000 for this effort.
“Of great concern to us all – leaders of our cities and towns and leaders of our organization – is the opioid epidemic,” said Patrick L. Green, president and chief executive officer of L+M Hospital. “By providing the funding to supply these municipalities with Narcan, we are one step closer to preventing another opioid death. This will allow area first responders to immediately begin potentially life-saving treatment in the field.”
While the crisis spiked at L+M Hospital in 2016, it has seen a significant increase in heroin-specific cases in the last few years. In 2014, the hospital treated a total of 74 heroin cases. That number jumped to 111 in 2015 before spiking to 165 in 2016. For 2017, the hospital has treated 71 heroin-specific cases (through July).
“This remains a serious problem for all of us in southeastern Connecticut. We can’t wait for a perfect solution to be put into place,” Green said. “Every step is a positive step. While we hope and pray for an end to this crisis, there is a lot of work to be done. My hope is that our partnership with these communities and with our local legislative delegation, as well as our congressional delegation, will demonstrate that we are fighting this epidemic together – as one community.”
This is the second time the hospital has provided funding for Narcan. Last year, after the start of the crisis in this area, it provided resources to a smaller number of communities. However, with the ongoing opioid crisis, as well as the budgetary challenges facing municipalities, the list of communities was expanded this year.
