Connecticut prison overdoses are ‘A more systemic issue’
SOMERS, Conn. (WTNH) — Prison overdoses are causing more problems with local ambulance and emergency response.
Somers was the first town to speak out, but now others are coming forward as well.
The town of Somers first called out the Connecticut Department of Correction last week at a special town council meeting.
There are so many calls for medical attention to Osborn Correctional Institute, it’s wearing out the Somers Fire Department, which only has four paid members. And they are not the only ones.
“Since the story ran last week, many people have reached out to me,” Somers Selectman Bill Meier (R) said. “And I think that we have learned that this is a more systemic issue of a lot of communities other than just Somers.”
According to the Somers 911 call log there have been 127 calls from to Osborn Correctional Institute through June 12. Last year there had only been 78 through June 12.
“I’ve spoken to some other communities about prisons, and are in a similar situation than the Town of Somers,” Meier said. “I don’t have all the numbers, I still am gathering information, but really this is the work that the department of correction should be doing.”
We did reach out to the Suffield First Selectman Colin Moll (R), but have not heard back. They have a large prison in their backyard as well, MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution. We have also reached out to MacDougall-Walker as well for their numbers, but did not receive a comment.
“One of the largest state agencies are relying heavily on one of the smallest communities in the state, and frankly draining our resources draining our emergency resources,” Meier said.
The CT DOC was closed Thursday for Juneteenth, but in a statement last week, they said: “The agency’s leadership is keenly aware of the impact these emergency trips have on the availability of these vital community resources.”
The leadership of the Osborn is working collaboratively with authorities from the Town of Somers to finds ways to provide timely emergency care for all those who need it.
“The department did have a scheduled meeting with the Somers Fire Chief (David Lenart) this week,” Meier said. “It was canceled. I know our town leadership is planning to reach out to the department of correction more formally.”
The CT DOC said there were 47 overdoses in the past 12 months at Osborn, and all of them have survived.
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