U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut announced Monday a $900,000 federal grant that will help the city of Waterbury combat the opioid epidemic.
Blumenthal said the grant from the Department of Justice will go to the Warm Hand-off Program, a new public health and safety partnership that connects opioid overdose survivors to support services.
“When somebody overdoses, they’re not just out on their own, on the street. There’s a warm handoff to real services support treatment. Not hands off, hands on,” Blumenthal said.
The grant comes following a state health report that found opioid deaths increased by 14% in 2020.
Blumenthal said the funds will also go toward other nonprofits that support opioid treatment in the city.
