Surge in Overdose Deaths Across Connecticut Linked to Potent Drug Supply
Connecticut Faces Overdose Crisis Amid Surge in Highly Potent Drug Supply
Bridgeport, CT — A sudden spike in overdose deaths has prompted urgent outreach by harm reduction teams across Connecticut, especially in Bridgeport. Liberation Programs, a local nonprofit, reports that more than 20 suspected fatal overdoses occurred over just three days at the end of June, alarming public health officials and community organizations alike.
According to John Hamilton, President and CEO of Liberation Programs, the organization’s teams have been actively working in the streets to alert the public about the danger. “We’re doing everything we can to engage people and keep them alive,” Hamilton said.
Statewide Emergency Response
Dr. James Gill, Connecticut’s Chief Medical Examiner, confirmed there were 20 suspected overdose deaths between June 27 and July 1, involving a combination of prescription and illicit substances. That’s a significant increase compared to 14 overdose deaths during the same period in 2024.
Hartford and other cities along the I-95 and I-91 corridors are also seeing a concerning rise in overdose fatalities. Between May 16 and June 6 alone, 61 suspected overdose deaths were reported across the state—with nearly half occurring in New Haven County.
State Department of Public Health (DPH) Commissioner Manisha Juthani took to Facebook in mid-June to raise public awareness. “We believe a more potent supply—specifically, higher levels of FYL—is contributing to these deaths,” she wrote. Juthani urged people not to use drugs alone and to carry Naloxone, which can reverse opioid overdoses when administered quickly.
According to DPH figures, emergency medical services responded to 44 overdoses on June 2—the highest single-day total since July 2024. The days that followed were only slightly lower, with 37 overdoses on June 3 and 26 on June 4.
Alarming Drug Potency
Testing of drugs recovered from recent overdose scenes has revealed unusually high levels of FYL—far exceeding what has been seen over the past 6–8 months. Hamilton believes the increased potency, possibly mixed with new substances like medetomidine, is making street drugs deadlier than ever. While medetomidine was linked to one fatality in 2024, it hasn’t officially been confirmed in 2025 deaths yet.
“There’s no FDA on the street,” said Dr. Gill. “People have no idea what they’re getting in those small packets.”
Liberation Programs is utilizing advanced drug-checking tools in their treatment centers. Hamilton confirmed that FYL found in Bridgeport is testing at dangerously high concentrations. So far, at least four of the 22 recent deaths have occurred in Fairfield County, with most centered in Bridgeport.
Medicaid Cuts Threaten Fragile Progress
This tragic spike in deaths comes just as overdose fatalities had begun to decline in Connecticut and across the U.S. In 2024, 990 people in Connecticut died from accidental overdoses, down from 1,338 the previous year. But U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal warns that proposed cuts to Medicaid—passed in a recent Senate budget bill—could put that progress at risk.
“Half of adults receiving opioid treatment in Connecticut are covered by Medicaid,” Blumenthal said at a recent press conference. “This funding is essential. Without it, lives will be lost.”
Community Urged to Stay Vigilant
DPH continues to monitor the crisis closely and is working with local health departments to conduct widespread outreach in at-risk communities. Hamilton’s harm reduction teams are actively distributing Naloxone and educating people about the dangers of the current drug supply.
Their message is clear: Stay informed, don’t use alone, and always carry Naloxone.
If you or someone you know needs help, contact a local harm reduction center or addiction support service. Every life matters—and awareness can save it.
Source: CT Insider