© 2025 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
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.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.