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Housing issues affect everyone in Connecticut, from those who are searching for a safe place to live, to those who may find it increasingly difficult to afford a place they already call home.WNPR is covering Connecticut's housing and homelessness issues in a series that examines how residents are handling the challenges they face. We look at the trends that matter most right now, and tell stories that help bring the issues to light.

New Haven Community Gets Lesson on Overdose Prevention

Lori Mack
/
WNPR
A naloxone kit.

In response to the recent rash of overdoses in New Haven, medical professionals are going out into the community to teach people how to use naloxone -- or Narcan -- the overdose antidote.

Melissa Zuppardi-Bozzi was part of a three-person team from Cornell Scott Hill Health Center in New Haven.

"We’re just going up to people and asking them if they heard about the overdoses in the community, if they’re interested in having Narcan, educating them on overdoses, how to use Narcan, recognizing an overdose," Zuppardi-Bozzi said.

They were also passing out kits that include gloves, a breathing mask if CPR is needed, and a prescription for naloxone. 

Many of the people they encountered told stories of friends that have died of an overdose or talked about their past drug use. But no one admitted to being an active user. Phil Costello wasn't surprised. He’s a nurse practitioner with the group. He said that’s basically how it works.

"A lot of times what you’ll find is family members, or significant others, or mothers or fathers also want to make sure that they’re safe," Costello said.

Costello is usually out twice a week doing what he calls “street medicine” for the homeless. But today he was out writing prescriptions for naloxone.

"Today we’re working on education for the recent epidemic of the fentanyl in the heroine and the fentanyl being substituted for cocaine," Costello said. "We prefer that they don’t use drugs, but right now we’re just trying to keep people from dying."

The group explained that having at least one dose of the antidote could buy someone time until paramedics arrive.

Lori Connecticut Public's Morning Edition host.

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