Connecticut ACEs, Overdose, and Suicide Prevention Funding

ACEs prevention funding - Connecticut

ACEs are preventable, potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood (0-17 years). Examples include neglect, experiencing or witnessing violence, or having a family member attempt or die by suicide.

*ACE statistics are reported by U.S. adults and include exposure to eight types of ACEs: physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, witnessing intimate partner violence, household substance abuse, household mental illness, parental separation or divorce, and incarcerated household member.

Other support for ACEs in Connecticut

Beyond the ACEs appropriation, CDC supports several initiatives, research, and partnerships to build state and tribal surveillance infrastructure and enhance ACEs prevention and mitigation.

In Connecticut, some of those other initiatives include:

• Overdose Data to Action

Overdose prevention funding - Connecticut

There were 106,699 drug overdose deaths in the United States in 2021 (32.4 deaths per 100,000 standard population), a 16% increase from 2020.2

*average award amount

Examples of how Connecticut is working to prevent overdose

Overdose education in correctional facilities

Connecticut increased overdose awareness and naloxone administration education in jails by teaching every inmate brought into custody about the signs of overdose and how to respond. Additionally, a new initiative helped to reach families of inmates when screening them to be sponsors upon discharge. Connecticut also added three facilities which offer medication for opioid use disorder, totaling nine facilities in the state and increasing the number of inmates treated in the program by 120%.

Harm reduction resource awareness

In Connecticut, a Combating Overdose through Community-Level Intervention initiative supported the Comprehensive Overdose Engagement team by mailing postcards to local residents. The postcards contained Overdose Response Coordinator contact information, job duties, and locations of the state’s harm reduction van. Within one week of the mailings, the harm reduction van received donations, including nearly one thousand clean syringes. The initiative also conducted naloxone administration trainings

Naloxone and overdose application usage

Connecticut's Naloxone and Overdose Response Application (NORA app) is a trusted statewide resource for accessing information on naloxone, recognizing an overdose, and finding treatment services. The app, available in four languages, includes materials about the risk of COVID-19 for people who use drugs and is used by many organizations including local health departments, recovery coaches, and emergency medical services.

Suicide prevention funding - Connecticut

Connecticut's suicide prevention priorities

Connecticut is preventing suicide with CDC Injury Center funding by:A

• Strengthening access and delivery of suicide care
• Creating protective environments
• Promoting connectedness
• Teaching coping and problem-solving skills
• Identifying and supporting people at risk
• Lessening harms and preventing future risk

Some groups have higher rates of suicide than others. To address disparities, Connecticut is focusing on:

• Youth and young adults ages 10-24
• Non-Hispanic white middle-aged males (aged 35-64)

Examples of how Connecticut is working to prevent suicide

Teaching mental health

The Connecticut Department of Public Health is supporting the roll-out of Gizmo's Pawesome Guide to Mental Health© elementary curriculum, a mental health promotion and social-emotional learning curriculum directed at 3rd-5th graders.

Providing emotional support

The Connecticut Suicide Advisory Board postvention subcommittee plans to reach out to families, schools, and other identified loss survivors to provide emotional support and resources for coping with loss and grief, and warning signs for suicide risk.