Five Bridgeport families are grieving following a spike in fentanyl deaths over the past few weeks.

Funerals were held for two of the people who overdosed this weekend.

Democratic Town Committee Member Tony Barr says his 57-year-old brother, Ernest, struggled for years with addiction and lost his battle two weeks ago.

"This fentanyl scourge has become an epidemic, causing literally hundreds of deaths throughout Connecticut on the streets here in Bridgeport," says Sen. Richard Blumenthal.

Blumenthal says he was alerted to the fentanyl deaths in Bridgeport, and hopes new legislation he wrote will soon make a difference.

"This legislation cracks down on imports of fentanyl from China and Mexico, which are the major sources, by requiring the Postal Service to intercept those packages that come through the mail,” says Blumenthal.

The family of a second victim, Raul Feliciano, tells News 12 that they hope the new legislation will make a difference.