Abstract
In 2019, Connecticut launched an opioid overdose-monitoring program to provide rapid intervention and limit opioid overdose-related harms. The Connecticut Statewide Opioid Response Directive (SWORD)-a collaboration among the Connecticut State Department of Public Health, Connecticut Poison Control Center (CPCC), emergency medical services (EMS), New England High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), and local harm reduction groups-required EMS providers to call in all suspected opioid overdoses to the CPCC. A centralized data collection system and the HIDTA overdose mapping tool were used to identify outbreaks and direct interventions. We describe the successful identification of a cluster of fentanyl-contaminated crack cocaine overdoses leading to a rapid public health response. On June 1, 2019, paramedics called in to the CPCC 2 people with suspected opioid overdose who reported exclusive use of crack cocaine after being resuscitated with naloxone. When CPCC specialists in poison information followed up on the patients' status with the emergency department, they learned of 2 similar cases, raising suspicion that a batch of crack cocaine was mixed with an opioid, possibly fentanyl. The overdose mapping tool pinpointed the overdose nexus to a neighborhood in Hartford, Connecticut; the CPCC supervisor alerted the Connecticut State Department of Public Health, which in turn notified local health departments, public safety officials, and harm reduction groups. Harm reduction groups distributed fentanyl test strips and naloxone to crack cocaine users and warned them of the dangers of using alone. The outbreak lasted 5 days and tallied at least 22 overdoses, including 6 deaths. SWORD's near-real-time EMS reporting combined with the overdose mapping tool enabled rapid recognition of this overdose cluster, and the public health response likely prevented additional overdoses and loss of life.
Highlights
With a 2019 estimated population of 3 565 300, Connecticut is the third smallest state by land mass but the fourth most densely populated state.[1,2] It is served by 398 emergency medical services (EMS) agencies and 27 acute care hospitals
Email: canning@uchc.edu opioid overdoses to CT DPH, which went into effect in 2019.5 Based on the successful implementation of a pilot program in Hartford, Connecticut,[6] CT DPH launched the Statewide Opioid Response Directive (SWORD) program to fulfill the reporting mandate
SWORD was a collaboration among CT DPH, the Connecticut Poison Control Center (CPCC), EMS, the New England High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), and community-b ased harm reduction groups that mandated EMS providers call in each suspected opioid overdose to CPCC specialists in poison information
Summary
With a 2019 estimated population of 3 565 300, Connecticut is the third smallest state by land mass but the fourth most densely populated state.[1,2] It is served by 398 emergency medical services (EMS) agencies (including volunteer and first responders) and 27 acute care hospitals. SWORD was a collaboration among CT DPH, the Connecticut Poison Control Center (CPCC), EMS, the New England High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), and community-b ased harm reduction groups that mandated EMS providers call in each suspected opioid overdose to CPCC specialists in poison information (hereinafter, CPCC specialists).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
