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    IB 1564 ORS Marijuana With Fentanyl Awareness

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    The Connecticut Overdose Response Strategy (CT-ORS) team received reports of overdose patients in multiple jurisdictions across Connecticut between July and October 2021 who exhibited opioid overdose symptoms and required naloxone for revival, despite claiming to have only smoked marijuana. In early October 2021 in Plymouth, Connecticut, police obtained a sample of marijuana from an overdose scene that tested positive for THC, marijuana, and fentanyl - the first confirmed case of fentanyl-laced marijuana in Connecticut and possibly the United States. The CT-ORS team is working with law enforcement to determine how widespread this issue is and encourages first responders to report all overdose events and suspicious drug encounters.

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    IB 1564 ORS Marijuana With Fentanyl Awareness

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    cb0b
    40K views2 pages
    The Connecticut Overdose Response Strategy (CT-ORS) team received reports of overdose patients in multiple jurisdictions across Connecticut between July and October 2021 who exhibited opioid overdose symptoms and required naloxone for revival, despite claiming to have only smoked marijuana. In early October 2021 in Plymouth, Connecticut, police obtained a sample of marijuana from an overdose scene that tested positive for THC, marijuana, and fentanyl - the first confirmed case of fentanyl-laced marijuana in Connecticut and possibly the United States. The CT-ORS team is working with law enforcement to determine how widespread this issue is and encourages first responders to report all overdose events and suspicious drug encounters.

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    Nov. 15 bulletin from NE HIDTA

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    The Connecticut Overdose Response Strategy (CT-ORS) team received reports of overdose patients in multiple jurisdictions across Connecticut between July and October 2021 who exhibited opioid overdose symptoms and required naloxone for revival, despite claiming to have only smoked marijuana. In early October 2021 in Plymouth, Connecticut, police obtained a sample of marijuana from an overdose scene that tested positive for THC, marijuana, and fentanyl - the first confirmed case of fentanyl-laced marijuana in Connecticut and possibly the United States. The CT-ORS team is working with law enforcement to determine how widespread this issue is and encourages first responders to report all overdose events and suspicious drug encounters.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    40K views2 pages

    IB 1564 ORS Marijuana With Fentanyl Awareness

    Uploaded by

    cb0b
    The Connecticut Overdose Response Strategy (CT-ORS) team received reports of overdose patients in multiple jurisdictions across Connecticut between July and October 2021 who exhibited opioid overdose symptoms and required naloxone for revival, despite claiming to have only smoked marijuana. In early October 2021 in Plymouth, Connecticut, police obtained a sample of marijuana from an overdose scene that tested positive for THC, marijuana, and fentanyl - the first confirmed case of fentanyl-laced marijuana in Connecticut and possibly the United States. The CT-ORS team is working with law enforcement to determine how widespread this issue is and encourages first responders to report all overdose events and suspicious drug encounters.

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    November 15, 2021

    Marijuana with Fentanyl Awareness


    Connecticut Overdose Response Strategy (CT-ORS)
    The CT ORS and the Connecticut Department of Public Health, Office of Emergency Medical
    Services received reports of overdose patients who exhibited opioid overdose symptoms and
    required naloxone for revival. These patients denied any opioid use and claimed to have only
    smoked marijuana.
    Recent incidents where only marijuana use was reported but naloxone was required:
     July 2021 – 11 cases
     August 2021 – 9 cases
     September 2021 – 9 cases
     October 1 - 26, 2021 – 10 cases

    The reported incidents were dispersed across Connecticut. Several jurisdictions had multiple
    overdoses with opioid symptoms attributed to marijuana, however no pattern was detected. In
    early October 2021, Plymouth, Connecticut had several overdose incidents where naloxone was
    required for revival and patients claimed to have only smoked marijuana. At one of these
    overdose scenes, Plymouth Police Department was able to secure a sample of the marijuana for
    testing at the state laboratory.
    The Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Division of Scientific
    Services Forensic Lab confirmed that the sample of marijuana obtained by Plymouth Police
    Department tested positive for the following:
     Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol
     Marijuana
     Fentanyl
    This is the first lab confirmed case of marijuana
    with fentanyl in Connecticut and possibly the first
    confirmed case in the United States.
    Based on the lab’s testing protocols they did not
    determine the form (salt) of fentanyl. The CT ORS
    Team will continue to work with the lab to see if
    this testing is possible. We will update when any
    new information becomes available.
    The CT ORS Team is working with the
    Connecticut State Police HIDTA Taskforces to
    ascertain just how pervasive of an issue this is
    across Connecticut.

    PUBLIC HEALTH | PUBLIC SAFETY | PARTNERSHIP


    The CT ORS Team suspects that the continued volatility of the illicit drug market will lead to
    continued increases of both fatal and non-fatal overdoses. We strongly encourage all EMS
    providers and law enforcement to report all overdose events, as well as any suspicious or unique
    drug encounters. EMS and Fire should follow SWORD protocols and law enforcement should
    notify the CT ORS Team.
    Reporting for EMS and Fire
    The CT ORS Team reminds all certified EMS personnel of the importance of the Statewide Opioid
    Reporting Directive (SWORD).
    The Connecticut Department of Public Health, Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS), in
    collaboration with the Connecticut Poison Control Center (CPCC) at UCONN Health, and pursuant
    to Public Act No. 18-166, Sec. 5 have enacted a real time reporting mechanism for Opioid
    Overdoses in the State through Emergency Medical Services called the CT EMS Statewide Opioid
    Reporting Directive (SWORD). All CT certified and licensed EMS organizations and providers
    report to the CPCC (1-800-221-1222) after any call when an overdose is suspected, whether or
    not naloxone was administered.
    SWORD Instructions: https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/Departments-and-
    Agencies/DPH/dph/ems/pdf/SWORD/SWORDhandoutFINAL.pdf
    Reporting for Law Enforcement
    The CT ORS Team reminds all law enforcement personnel of the importance of submitting all
    narcotic seizures and overdoses to CTIC using the CTIC Seizure and Overdose Reporting Guide.
    Resources
    For safe handling information, please refer to ONDCP Fentanyl Safety Recommendations for First
    Responders

    Harm Reduction services are community-based programs that traditionally support persons using
    substances and are available to assist first responders after an overdose occurs. They can
    provide and link individuals who experienced an overdose to other important services, programs
    and outreach. Please refer to the following link for harm reduction services available in your area:
    https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/Departments-and-Agencies/DPH/AIDS--Chronic-
    Diseases/Prevention/SyringeServicesProgram.pdf

    CT ORS Team
    Robert Lawlor, Drug Intelligence Officer Anna Gasinski, Public Health Analyst
    Phone: 203-379-6517 Phone: 203-623-4716
    Email: rlawlor@nehidta.org Email: agasinski@nehidta.org

    PUBLIC HEALTH | PUBLIC SAFETY | PARTNERSHIP

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