Connecticut’s overdose deaths decline for third year despite more potent opiates in 2024

The Middletown Press – Saturday, March 1, 2025
By Cris Villalonga-Vivoni

As the number of fatal drug overdoses across Connecticut decreased for a third year in a row, more potent opiates and substances continue to contribute to a majority of these deaths, according to the latest data from the state Department of Public Health released in mid-January.

The number of overdose-related deaths from late 2024, specifically December, is yet to be finalized due to pending cases waiting for toxicology. Still, the report estimates a total of 1,118 people died from fatal opioid overdoses based on the annualized estimates. This is a predicted 16% decrease from the previous year, according to the report.

The department of public health spokesperson said many initiatives and efforts over the years have helped reduce the number of overdose related deaths, like local syringe services, conducting community drug testing and enhanced community education on Naloxone, an overdose reversal medication.

“Although the number of drug overdose deaths is on a downward trajectory, which is very encouraging, there is more prevention work to be done. CT is putting more emphasis on harm reduction initiatives and services,” the spokesperson said in an email statement.

Fentanyl contributed to over 77% of the confirmed 2024 fatal overdoses, following a steady decrease over the last two years. At the same time, the report states that a combination of fentanyl and xylazine, an animal tranquilizer that is resistant to Narcan, a brand overdose reversal medication, was involved in about 35% of the deaths in 2024. The report notes that this is an increase from previous years and the highest it’s been since the deadly concoction was first identified in 2019.

There were also sharp increases in the use and presence of three synthetic drugs:

• Carfentanil, also known as an elephant tranquilizer, is an opioid sedative that is 100 times more potent than fentanyl. The Department of Public Health reports that it contributed to 9 overdose deaths in the state as of Dec. 2024, a rise from the 7 deaths in 2023.
• Designer benzodiazepines have similar chemical structures to “traditional” benzodiazepines, like lorazepam, but have stronger and longer-lasting effects. The more potent version caused around 32 deaths in 2024 and 31 deaths in 2023, showing a sharp increase from previous years.
• Novel synthetic opioids called nitazenes are also much more potent than fentanyl and contributed to 9 deaths in 2024. This is a slight decrease from 2023; however, it remains significantly higher than when the drug was first reported in 2022 when it caused two deaths.

According to a public health alert sent to local health departments from the state, many of the cases related to these three substances were located in cities primarily along the shoreline, like Bridgeport and New Haven, and central Connecticut, like Waterbury, Bristol and Hartford.

“The Connecticut Department of Public Health’s [Injury and Violence Surveillance Unit] remains vigilant about these new emerging substances and will inform the local communities as needed,” the state’s monthly report said.

The Department of Public Health’s report also found an overall decrease in overdose death rates across all race and ethnic populations compared to the previous years based on the preliminary data.

Black residents have had a higher mortality rate than other racial groups, reaching a peak in 2022, but has since decreased over the last two years. In addition, Hispanic residents also had the lowest death rate in 2024 compared to previous years.

The report also found that men have higher overdose-related mortality rates than women living in Connecticut between 2020 to 2024; however, this year, the overall trend shows a decrease among men and a slight increase among women this past year.

“There is an increasing rate in drug overdose deaths in the 65 and older age group, which is contrary to the decreasing trend in most of the other age groups observed,” the department spokesperson said.

Moving forward, the department spokesperson said that the Office of Injury and Violence Prevention will continue to expand its opioid overdose prevention efforts through funding from the CDC’s Overdose Data to Action in States program. They said the department partners with selected contractors to promote prevention in health systems, public safety partnerships and harm reduction navigation work.

“Per the most recent overdose data, more prevention efforts need to be made for the non-Hispanic Black population, the 65 and older age group, and restraining the emergence of new and dangerous substances in the drug supply,” the spokesperson said.

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