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Connecticut Gets Federal Grant To Combat Opioid Epidemic

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The state's efforts to control the opioid addiction crisis are getting a boost from new federal funding. Connecticut will receive a $5.5 million federal grant. 

The cash comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the first round of funding from President Barack Obama’s 21st Century Cures Act.

In welcoming the news, Governor Dannel Malloy said there are no shortage of ways to use the money. “Listen, we have an educational issue, we have a detox issue, we have a longer term treatment issue," he said, "and I suspect the monies will augment all of those services that we seek to provide.”

Specifically the aims will be to increase access to addiction treatments and reduce the soaring number of opioid related overdose deaths in the state.

Many advocates say even when addicts are ready to seek treatment there often aren’t enough beds available to provide a quick route into rehab.

Governor Malloy also said he’s seeking to pass legislation this session that would mandate all opioid prescriptions in the state are issued electronically and not on paper, as a way to cut down on abuse of the system.

WNPR's Opioid Addiction Crisis Reporting Initiative is supported by Hartford HealthCare Behavioral Health Network's MATCH Program.

Harriet Jones is Managing Editor for Connecticut Public Radio, overseeing the coverage of daily stories from our busy newsroom.

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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.