A federal infusion of $22 million to help fight the opioid crisis in Connecticut, where the overdose rate is higher than the national average, will be directed at retrieving unused narcotics through pharmacy and police department collection centers.
Dr. Vincent McClain, associated medical director of residential services with Rushford, spoke in favor of a bill at a press conference held recently by Connecticut Democratic Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy. The bill, which was passed by the U.S. Senate and awaits House of Representatives approval, includes The Access to Increased Drug Disposal Act that funnels grant money to increase participation in take-back programs.
“This would benefit the people of Connecticut by decreasing the amount of unused old prescriptions that are available to children, adolescents and others by decreasing the excess ‘medicine cabinet’ access,” Dr. McClain says. “This is critical in an area hit so hard by the opioid epidemic. We need such a coordinated federal response to support the teams at Rushford and elsewhere that are meeting the challenges posed by this crisis.”