Report finds Greenwich suffers from opioid problem

A new report says that it is harder to find solutions to drug problems in wealthy communities like Greenwich. The report found that opioid deaths are up 53 percent in Connecticut over the last decade

News 12 Staff

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Nov 12, 2016, 3:59 AM

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Updated 2,966 days ago

A new report says that it is harder to find solutions to drug problems in wealthy communities like Greenwich.

The report found that opioid deaths are up 53 percent in Connecticut over the last decade and places like Greenwich are particularly at risk because people there often hide their addictions.

According to the report, doctors are overprescribing prescription painkillers.

The study recommends a community-wide effort to limit painkiller prescriptions and look for alternatives to help the problem.

Alan Mathis of the Liberation Programs has interviewed dozens of students and parents and he says many believe prescription drugs are safer than illegal ones.

But in Greenwich alone, the state says seven people have died from legally prescribed painkillers in the past two years.

Mathis says in wealthy towns where there's a lot of pressure to succeed, removing the stigma of addiction is crucial.

A new state law limits initial prescriptions to just one week, but did not limit the dosage.

First Selectman Peter Tesei says opioids are over-prescribed and it's up to parents to protect their kids.