Norwich — The Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments plans to form a subcommittee on regional approaches to address the heroin crisis.  

The committee would likely include several mayors and first selectmen from the council, representatives from its Human Services Coordinating Council, and other leaders in the region. 

"I think here at the COG, it's our responsibility to sit down and regionally organize," said Griswold First Selectmen Kevin Skulczyck at Wednesday's meeting of the regional council in Norwich.

New London Mayor Michael Passero also urged action. He said New London has been fighting the problem of heroin addiction for decades.

Recent roundtables on the issue, he said, felt like "finally the cavalry is here and finally the region and people are starting to pay attention to the problem."

State Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, called it "a decades-old problem" exacerbated by an abundance of prescription drugs.

She said "there is no Band-Aid" for the issue, but it's a long-term, complicated problem that requires resources. 

"In an age where we're all cutting budgets, top to bottom, keep in mind that this is a real problem that's going to take real money to really solve," said Osten, "and I think we have to get everyone involved in it."  

Osten, who is also Sprague's first selectman, recommended the committee's membership include the human services council, state police, a representative from the doctors association in the area, and hospitals.

k.drelich@theday.com

Twitter: @KimberlyDrelich