Connecticut State Department of Public Health

Opioid and Drug Overdose Statistics

In Connecticut, residents are more likely to die from unintentional drug overdose than a motor vehicle accident. The majority of these deaths are linked to overdose of prescription opioid painkillers and illicit opioids. According to the CDC, the 2020 Connecticut age-adjusted rate for drug-induced mortality was 39.1 per 100,000 population compared to the 2020 national rate of 28.3.

 

State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System:

The Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH) is funded by the CDC to participate in the State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS) to collect comprehensive data on unintentional and undetermined intent overdose deaths within the state. Data is abstracted from multiple data sources including death certificates, medical examiner reports, and postmortem toxicology results. SUDORS captures information on variables such as demographics, circumstances, scene evidence, and substances contributing to the death for each overdose death.

 

Monthly Drug Overdose Death Report

 

 

Drug Overdose Death Fact Sheets

 

CT SUDORS Dashboard

The CT DPH presents an interactive dashboard showcasing data from SUDORS on drug overdose deaths to increase public awareness about the impact of the opioid crisis in Connecticut. In this dashboard, demographic, geographic, and type of drug-related overdose information can be visualized through the years from 2015 to 2023.

To navigate the dashboard, hover over maps and charts to get more details. To view the dashboard for selected years, time periods, demographics, or types of drugs involved, single-click on these sections. Click again to go back to the original view or click the reset button on the bottom right of the screen.

 

 

CDC SUDORS Dashboard and Infographic

CDC also publishes a national dashboard for SUDORS data, which can be found here. The dashboard can be filtered to show data specifically for Connecticut. Also, see here for an infographic detailing a summary overview of Connecticut SUDORS data for 2020.

 

For more information on drug overdose death data, please see here for statistics posted by the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner:

 

EpiCenter Syndromic Surveillance System:

The CT DPH uses syndromic surveillance system data from the EpiCenter system to provide near real-time estimates of emergency department (ED) utilization for suspected drug overdoses in order to quickly detect and respond to changes in patterns of both fatal and nonfatal overdoses. Please see the following links for preliminary data maps on ED utilization for suspected overdoses due to all drugs (including all opioids, stimulants, and benzodiazepines), all opioids (including prescription painkillers and fentanyl/analogs), heroin, and stimulant overdoses.

For more information on drug overdose death data, please see here for statistics posted by the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner:

 

  EpiCenter Syndromic Surveillance Maps by Local Health Department/District (LHD)

 

  

For additional data reports on drug and opioid overdoses, please see the following links:

 
Statewide Overdose Reporting Directive (SWORD):
SWORD is a real-time reporting mechanism for Opioid Overdoses in the State through Emergency Medical Services (EMS).  All Connecticut-certified and -licensed EMS organizations and providers are now reporting to the Connecticut Poison Control Center (CPCC) after any call where the patient is suspected of opioid use causing decreased responsiveness, respiratory depression, or death, whether or not naloxone was administered." For more details on the SWORD program and links to monthly SWORD newsletters, please click on the following link: https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/Emergency-Medical-Services/EMS/OEMS---SWORD.

 

 

Naloxone Distribution and Training Through the Department of Correction:

To reduce fatal opioid overdoses among recently incarcerated individuals, the Connecticut Department of Correction (CT DOC) provides naloxone (NARCAN) and the accompanying training at various touchpoints post-incarceration. The Addiction Treatment Unit staff at CT DOC distribute naloxone and provide training on naloxone administration to the following: inmates upon release or discharge, offenders on community supervision, sponsors of inmates preparing for discharge, and sponsors of offenders currently on parole. Over time, the number of participating CT DOC facilities, halfway houses and parole offices has expanded; as of January 2022, 100% of CT DOC facilities and parole offices are participating in naloxone distribution and training. In addition, the CT DOC trains every staff member on signs of an opioid overdose and how to respond with naloxone. This lifesaving medication is also strategically placed throughout all correctional facilities so that overdoses can be treated with naloxone by any staff person.

 

Prescription Monitoring and Reporting System:

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection reports data on various indicators related to opioid prescribing and dispensing practices throughout the state collected through the Connecticut Prescription Monitoring and Reporting System (CPMRS). The CPMRS is a centralized database used to track prescription data for Schedule II through Schedule V drugs. The CPMRS is also utilized by healthcare providers and pharmacists in the active treatment of their patients. The purpose of the CPMRS is to present a complete picture of a patient’s controlled substance use, including prescriptions by other providers.

 

Quarterly Prescription Monitoring and Reporting System Reports

For more information on the CPMRS and access to additional data reports, please see here:

 

For more information, please call

The Office of Injury and Violence Prevention 

(860) 509-8251