Opioids & Prescription Drugs – Somers Comes Together

Change the Script

Change the Script is a statewide public awareness campaign to help communities deal with the prescription drug and opioids misuse crisis. It connects town leaders, healthcare professionals, treatment professionals and everyday people with the resources they need to face prescription opioid misuse – and write a new story about what we can accomplish when we all work toward a shared goal.

Operation Prevention

Operation Prevention is a joint effort of the National Drug Enforcement Agency and Discovery Education aimed at combating prescription opioid misuse and heroin nationwide. A parent toolkit as well as classroom resources are available.

LiveLOUD-Live Life

LiveLOUD-Live Life with Opioid Use Disorder is a newly launched statewide awareness campaign directed to those who are actively using heroin or misusing prescription opioids, their families, and communities. This site offers information, treatment options, and support.

Naloxone

NORA

NORA (Naloxone + Overdose Response App) is the Department of Public Health’s newest initiative designed to help save lives when confronted with an opioid overdose by educating residents on how to administer naloxone and using a user’s GPS data to find nearby locations to obtain the medication. The app, which is free for all users, functions through the web browser of most smartphones.

What is Naloxone?

Naloxone, sold under the brand name Narcan among others, is a medication used to counteract the life-threatening effects of an opioids overdose. Opioids include heroin and prescription pain pills such as oxycodone and morphine. Since most accidental overdoses occur in a home setting, it was developed for first responders, as well as family, friends, and caregivers—with no medical training required.

Naloxone Training Video

How to Obtain Naloxone

Visit this link for a list of pharmacies prescribing Narcan/naloxone. Pharmacists can prescribe Naloxone so that a doctor’s prescription is not required. There is a cost; Check with your insurance regarding coverage.

Current Connecticut Laws Related to Naloxone

The 2011 “Good Samaritan Law” protects people who call 911 seeking emergency medical services for an overdose from arrest for possession of drugs/paraphernalia.
The 2012 Narcan law allows prescribers (physicians, surgeons, Physicians’ Assistants, APRNs, dentists, and podiatrists) to prescribe, dispense or administer Narcan to any person to prevent or treat a drug overdose and the prescriber is protected from civil liability and criminal prosecution.
In 2014, protection from civil liability and criminal prosecution was extended to the person administering the Narcan in response to an overdose.
The 2015 legislation has several parts including:
- Allowing pharmacists to prescribe and dispense Naloxone (Narcan) if they receive special training and certification to do so (in effect now)
- Requiring physicians, PAs (Physician Assistants), APRNs (Advanced Practice Registered Nurses), and dentists to take continuing education in prescribing controlled substances and pain management (effective October 1, 2015)
- Requiring prescribers, before prescribing more than a 72 hour supply of a controlled substance, to check the patient’s record in the electronic Connecticut Prescription Monitoring and Reporting System (CPMRS) (effective October 1, 2015)
- Requiring prescribers, when prescribing controlled substances for prolonged treatment, to review the patient’s record in the CPMRS at least every 90 days (effective October 1, 2015).