Connecticut Congressional Delegation Announces $315,000 in Federal Funding to Fight Opioid Overdoses

(Hartford, CT)—Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Representatives John Larson (CT-1), Joe Courtney (CT-2), Rosa DeLauro (CT-3), Jim Himes (CT-4), and Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) announced $315,000 in funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help support Connecticut’s response to the opioid overdose epidemic.

The funding, under the Enhanced State Surveillance of Opioid-Involved Morbidity and Mortality (ESSOS) program,  will be used to develop and adapt surveillance systems to address the rising rate of opioid-related overdoses, with a specific focus on heroin and synthetic opioids such as illicitly manufactured fentanyl.

“Unfortunately, we know the scourge of the opioid epidemic in Connecticut and the growing presence of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids on our streets. At alarming rates, families and communities are being ripped apart after every tragic overdose, and we’ve heard loud and clear that more must be done,” said the delegation. “These much-needed federal dollars will go towards efforts to help curb the rising rates of opioid-related overdoses-- including those triggered by deadly synthetic opioids--  and are a step in the right direction towards ending this devastating, harrowing epidemic.”

For this round of funding, the CDC awarded more than $12 million to 23 states nationwide. The CDC expects to announce additional funding later this summer.