Opioid Treatment-Overdose Action Team in New London

For almost three years, the City of New London, Ledge Light Health District, Alliance for Living and many other community organizations, first responders.  government agencies, individuals with lived experience and families from New London and surrounding towns formed the Overdose Action Team (OAT), which is focused on improving local response to the opioid epidemic through data sharing and coordinating intervention efforts.

The OAT was awarded one of only 13 grants in the country in 2018 through the federal High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program. As a result of this funding, three Recovery Navigators were deployed in locations through the city where data shows the highest numbers of overdoses. Since the project began, the navigators have engaged over 300 people, with many of those contacted initiating medically based treatment as a result. The program is so successful that the grant was almost doubled and the work expanded to other Southeastern Connecticut communities. We currently have 5 Recovery Navigators working in the community.

The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, also awarded a grant to the OAT to implement the “How Can We Help” initiative, which enhances community outreach to include direct follow up with those who have overdosed at home.

In New London, a Recovery navigator and firefighter engage with a resident in his/her home. Our firefighter/navigator partnership, which started in late Spring 2019,  is the first initiative of its kind in Connecticut.

The City of New London is the first and only community in Connecticut to pass an ordinance which provides oversight of sober homes in our community.

Our work is recognized statewide and nationally and we have participated in numerous Summits, conference and forums.

In addition, the OAT has sponsored a photography exhibit, Living Proof, person stories of struggle and hope while living with opioid use disorder.. Living Proof is a photography exhibit featuring the compelling  portraits and stories of people from our region who have partnered with the Opioid Action Team to increase understanding of their chronic disease and paths to wellness.