Today is Overdose Awareness Day in the State of Connecticut. 

Bethel Representative Raghib Allie-Brennan is highlighting a bill signed by the Governor last month to prohibit health care providers from being required to prescribe more than the physician-recommended dose of prescription drugs if deemed clinically inappropriate, reducing the potential for substance misuse or abuse. 

He says while strong inroads have been made  in assisting those struggling with substance use disorders by expanding access to treatment and recovery services, there is still more work to be done. 

Allie-Brennan is touting another bill signed by Lamont over the summer which he co-sponsored establishing a peer navigator pilot program.  It's based on a New Milford program that matches survivors of substance abuse disorder with individuals struggling with addiction.  The navigators receive training on non-coercive and non-stigmatizing methods for engaging people struggling with addiction to start recovery and help connect them with basic needs such as food, housing or employment.