CT sees overdose spike fueled by fentanyl, animal sedative and drug used to numb dental patients

New Haven Register – Monday, June 9, 2025
By Steven Goode

The state has seen a spike in drug overdoses between May 15 and June 6 fueled by three substances: the opioid fentanyl, a sedative for animals and a drug commonly used to numb patients at the dentist.

Officials said Monday that 61 people are suspected of overdosing on drugs in that time with 27 suspected fatal overdoses in New Haven County. The announcement follows one made by New Haven health officials last week that detailed 19 overdoses in four recent days.

Becky Rubenstein, public educator for the New Haven Department of Health said that between June 1 and June 6,there were 40 non-fatal overdoses in the city and five fatal overdoses.

“Along with our state partners, NHV Health will continue to conduct monitoring and surveillance,” she said. “We also continue to work together with our community partners to prevent further overdoses by conducting outreach to individuals using substances, providing harm reduction supplies such as Narcan and drug test strips and linking individuals to detox and care facilities.”

Rubenstein said residents can access free Narcan and drug testing strips at the New Haven Health Department at 424 Chapel St. or by calling 203-946-6999. Yale’s Community Health Care Van also offers a free, confidential drug testing at 270 Congress Ave., she said.

A spokesman for the city of New Haven noted Monday that despite the recent spike, numbers of overdose deaths are down over the past several years. Lenny Speiller said that according to state Department of Health statistics that in 2022, New Haven had 128 overdose deaths, followed by 116 deaths in 2023 and 72 deaths in 2024. The numbers represent a 38% decline between 2023 and 2024 and a 44% decline between 2022 and 2024.

Officials said the total number of overdose deaths in 2025 stands at 12, but added that the number does not reflect last week’s overdose deaths reported in New Haven which may include some or all New Haven residents.

New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker said Monday that like communities across the country, New Haven has seen too many of its residents lost to drug overdoses and opioids.

“And, tragically, for every drug overdose that results in death, there are many more non-fatal overdoses that cause significant harm to individuals and families. Alongside and in coordination with our local and state partners, every day we’re actively working to engage and connect individuals using substances to a variety of prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery supports and services,” Elicker said. “While the downward trend is encouraging, as evidenced by the recent spike in overdoses over the last couple weeks, this is an ongoing battle and one we must continue to stay vigilant on to prevent as many future overdoses as possible in our community.”

Officials said 17 suspected fatal overdoses occurred in Hartford County, including a spike of three in a single day on June 1, and that 19% of reported overdoses in Connecticut occurred in Hartford in June 2025, up from 19% in May 2025 and compared to 13.3% from July to December 2024.

Hartford health officials were not immediately available for comment Friday, but city police spokesman Lt. Aaron Boisvert said that Hartford has not experienced a spike.

Officials said they have an elevated concern regarding increased overdose activity along the I-91 and I-95 corridors.

Emergency medical responses to reported overdoses have also been on the rise, officials said.

On June 2nd there were 44 EMS-reported overdoses statewide, which is the highest single day total since July 2024. On June 3rd, there were 37 reported overdoses, making it the third-highest overdose day. And on June 4, there were 26 reported overdoses, with the potential for increase as late entries are submitted, officials said. Overall, the month of May averaged more than 23 overdoses per day, marking the highest monthly
average since July 2024.

On Monday, Gov. Ned Lamont said in a press release that preliminary figures from the Connecticut Department of Public Health showed a 26% decline in overdose deaths in 2024 compared to those in 2023 and that the state’s efforts to expand access and availability of life-saving medication, in addition to public education and harm reduction efforts, have been essential in addressing the opioid and overdose epidemic.

“Let there be no doubt, the opioid crisis remains a very serious public health issue,” Lamont said. “The 990 individuals we lost in 2024 to overdose is far too many of our family, friends, and loved ones to take a victory lap or celebrate when there is still so much more work to do.”

There were 1,338 overdose deaths in 2023, with 76% involving fentanyl, officials said.

Officials also said test samples collected on May 25 revealed the presence of three drugs in the overdose cases, including fentanyl, the animal anesthetic medetomidine and procaine, the drug name for the substance used to numb dental patients.

“Additional testing conducted on June 3, 2025 in New Haven, showed fentanyl concentrations significantly higher than previously seen within the past 6 to 8 months,” they said.

The findings suggest that polysubstance combinations and higher concentrations of fentanyl may be contributing factors to the current spike in overdoses, officials said.

“This spike is concerning, especially when looking at the change in drug composition over the last 6 to 8 months,” the state Department of Health said.

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