Regulation of sober houses, the creation of new drug intervention programs and the expansion of substance-abuse education programs are among the recommendations outlined in a report on the region's response to the heroin crisis.

The Regional Heroin Response Committee, formed last February by the Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments, had met with police chiefs, superintendents, and health and human service providers to understand the needs they perceive and the problems they face, said Ledyard Mayor Michael Finkelstein, a committee member.

The committee's report, accepted by the council of governments last week, provides recommendations for municipalities, school systems, law enforcement, health and human service providers and the state.

The report identifies challenges in tackling the opioid crisis that include a lack of oversight for sober houses, an insufficient number of treatment facilities, inadequate insurance coverage for long-term treatment and gaps in substance abuse education.

The council of governments is advocating for new laws that would regulate sober houses, enhance insurance coverage for addiction treatment and create diversion programs that would allow those addicted to opioids to receive treatment, rather than go to prison.

The report recommends local communities host educational forums, with assistance from local organizations such as Community Speaks Out and the Southeastern Regional Action Council (SERAC); expand prescription drop-off programs; and implement support groups for people with addictions and their families.

Cities and towns should also facilitate "the establishment of quality treatment facilities through supportive zoning regulations and other municipal functions," as well as learn from successful programs adopted in other parts of the state and the nation, the report says.

Education about opioids should be included in schools' substance-abuse prevention programs, and education programs should be expanded to all middle-school and high-school grades, according to some of the recommendations for school districts. A referral network should also be in place to identify students in need of help.

The report recommends health care and human service providers have a system to connect people who have overdosed to treatment options and follow up with them after they leave the hospital. 

The state should also expand the availability of Narcan, used to counteract the effects of an overdose, to first responders and provide them with training, as well as require doctors to register prescriptions, the report states.

Griswold First Selectman Kevin Skulczyck, who co-chaired the committee with New London Mayor Michael Passero, said the committee's goal was to recommend ways the region can work together, emphasize priorities and advocate for funding so that programs can be kept open at a time when funding is tight.  

Funding will be key to moving forward with the report's recommendations, Passero said, and officials will be closely following to determine how much federal funding Connecticut will receive under the 21st Century Cures Act.

Passero said the state's financial situation appears dire and pointed out that a local initiative for a voluntary certification program for sober houses stalled due to a lack of state funding for the organization facilitating the program.

He said the lack of resources is frustrating, but city officials are working aggressively through cooperation among the city's departments and networking with agencies in the city to monitor the situation very closely and make sure they're doing everything they can.

Chris Soto, who was recently elected as state representative for the 39th House District, said last week that he and Jeanne Milstein, New London's human services director, are investigating legislation to expand oversight of sober houses. 

Skulczyck, recently elected as state representative for the 45th House District, noted some of the challenges facing the region and beyond, such as a shortage of treatment beds. He said it's important to make sure treatment programs are available — and available for longer periods of time, so people can receive the treatment necessary to recover. 

Skulczyck said opioid addiction affects both lower-income and higher-income communities in the region. The committee allows information to be shared with the regional council of governments, so communities can collaborate and raise awareness to keep the issue at the forefront.

"If we stop talking about it, it's not going to go away," Skulczyck said. "It's just going to be a problem that keeps getting bigger."

Milstein, New London's human services director, said a regional approach will yield the most effective response. Communities in Southeastern Connecticut need to be united in their response to the crisis, she said.

"By having a unified, coordinated approach, we are able to make much more of a difference," she said. 

John Connelly, warden for Jewett City; Bruce Flax, mayor for the town of Groton; Finkelstein, Ledyard's mayor; Norwich Mayor Deberey Hinchey; Montville Mayor Ronald McDaniel; and Waterford First Selectman Daniel Steward served as members of the committee.

k.drelich@theday.com