The Western Connecticut Council of Governments, the regional planning group for the Greater Danbury area, got an update from their Drug Task Force earlier this month. 

Danbury and New Milford Hospitals Chair of Psychiatry Dr. Chuck Herrick talked with them about the hospital's addiction and overdose programs. 

The hospital has created new overdose care protocol that starts with the acute care and continues after the patient has been discharged.  This new policy includes providing Narcan, an appointment with a councilor through the Midwestern Connecticut Council on Alcoholism, and other resource opportunities including Methadone. 

He also took questions from the Drug Task Force about the lack of addiction care providers and the dearth in Suboxone prescribers. Direct to consumer marketing of controlled substance, sober home regulations, and funding for RACs was also discussed, with intentions to address more at future meetings.