Deadly Addiction: Heroin
Faith, recovery and sharing a way of life for Norwich man
Fifty-two year old Frank Novajovsky heads up the local chapter of Reformers Unanimous, a faith-based recovery program at the Stedfast Baptist Church in Groton. This year, he also has been involved in a community effort to help those addicted to opioids, attending vigils and offering help and prayer.
GALLERIES: Deadly Addiction: Heroin
Man accused of 2015 Montville robbery arrested last week
Michael Caccavale was extradited from a New York prison and served with a felony arrest warrant.
Montville overdose could have been prevented, mother and fiancee say
Published August 29, 2020
Chris Soper's mother, Janet Lynch of Preston, wishes she had not seen her son as he looked after being dropped off by friends and dying of an overdose at the end of his driveway.
Rooms of recovery go online to observe social distancing
Published March 28, 2020
The recovery community has had to be creative in order to stay connected during this grim and stressful moment in history.
Drug overdose deaths continue to increase in New London, Norwich, state
Drug overdose deaths continued to rise in the New London and Norwich last year, a sobering fact that local health and social services advocates say is a sad reminder that the fight against the opioid addiction crisis is ongoing.
Three dozen Norwich agencies trying to combat opioid overdose crisis
Two city agencies and three dozen partner agencies will use $1.3 million in grants to try to reduce substance abuse.
MORE STORIES: Deadly Addiction: Heroin
Stretch of Route 117 in Groton named in honor of 'Jo Jo Nice' Gingerella
Published November 2, 2019
One of the new rectangular, brown highway signs is steps away from the Ryan's Pub parking lot, where Gingerella was fatally shot on Dec. 11, 2016, when he tried to stop a man from beating his girlfriend.
Report: Norwich overdose deaths declined in 2018, but were younger
In Norwich, overdose fatalities tend to be white males or females in their 30s whose addictions started in their teens and 20s.
Judge releases redacted court document in Griswold teen death case
The case of a man serving an eight-year sentence in connection with the death of Griswold teen Olivia Roark served as an example of the government's practice of offering offenders leniency in order to obtain information that leads to additional arrests.
Researchers pose as heroin users to find treatment gaps
Published June 4, 2019
Posing as heroin users seeking help, researchers contacted hundreds of treatment clinics in U.S. states with the highest overdose death rates. The "secret shoppers" were denied appointments much of the time, especially if they said they were insured through Medicaid.
Firefighters now following up with those who overdose in New London
A plan first discussed last year became reality Tuesday, as a firefighter joined an outreach worker to follow up with people who have overdosed in the city.
Man to serve six years for drug-fueled attack on senior in New London
The mother of a man who assaulted and robbed an 88-year-old man in the parking lot of a Walgreens in New London last year thanked a judge Monday for keeping her son in prison while his case was pending in New London Superior Court.
Experts: Latest opioid bill good-hearted but needs tweaks
An opioid-related bill that tackles treatment, training and overdose prevention is good-hearted but should be tweaked, public and private sector experts said during a Public Health Committee hearing Monday.
Wiretaps, surveillance led to alleged drug ring indictment
The DEA made the case against an alleged southeastern Connecticut drug trafficking ring through surveillance over multiple states and court-authorized wiretaps of alleged members.
State to provide opioid overdose-reversal drug to hospital emergency rooms
For the next two years, the state will be providing Connecticut hospitals with the opioid overdose-reversal drug naloxone to be distributed to at-risk patients and their loved ones upon discharge from emergency rooms.
OCME: Connecticut sees year-over-year decrease in OD deaths
Fewer people died by overdose in 2018 than in the year before, the first time the state saw such a year-over-year decrease since the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner began releasing numbers in 2012.
Somers: Legislators again will dedicate full day to opioid-related bills
Published February 28, 2019
As overdoses continue to kill 1,000 people a year in Connecticut, state Sen. Heather Somers, R-Groton, said the Public Health Committee again will dedicate a day to bills that address the problem.
Providence man found guilty of heroin trafficking in southeastern Connecticut
Authorities began investigating after several heroin overdoses in southeastern Connecticut, including two deaths involving a heroin and fentanyl mix in January 2016.
Lamont continues focus on second chances with criminal justice recommendations
Gov. Ned Lamont's budget recommendations for criminal justice agencies appear to follow the playbook of the previous administration, focusing on a reduction in crime, declining prison population and second chances.
Data: Opioid overdoses may be stabilizing in Connecticut
Data from 38 Connecticut emergency departments show the state’s opioid overdose crisis may be stabilizing, the state Department of Public Health said this week.
Retired librarian's book details lives of local sex workers
Published February 9, 2019
A retired Connecticut College librarian who spent 10 years paying women not for sex but to tell their stories has published a revised version of the book he wrote about the experience.
Woman charged in Sprague, Willimantic robberies
State police on Friday filed additional charges against the suspected accomplice in a string of armed robberies at convenience stores in Windham and Sprague.
Report: Early intervention for low-level offenders shows promising results
The Early Screening and Intervention Program "gives the criminal justice system one more set of eyes to see what's going on and maybe do something about it," said New London prosecutor Michael Kennedy.
Norwich event planner more determined after son's fatal overdose
Published February 3, 2019
A local woman whose son inspired her to start an event planning organization said his Jan. 11 overdose death only has made her more tenacious.
Norwich methadone clinic to be closed for several months
The 553 clients at the West Thames Street clinic will have to take a bus to Willimantic or New London.
New London man to serve 12 years for role in heroin trafficking ring
Michael "Mike Mike" Luciano was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison Tuesday for supplying street-level dealers in the New London area with heroin he obtained from sources in Rhode Island and Masachusetts.
Norwich recovery coach project could expand across state
Published January 26, 2019
A pilot project that uses the state 211 system to pair callers with an addiction recovery coach is going well and could be replicated across the state.
Volunteers tackle cold to count, help the homeless
Published January 22, 2019
A team, bundled in winter jackets and hats as temperatures dipped into the low 20s, canvassed a wooded area in the city on Tuesday night in search of anyone they could help.
Panel at Narcotics Anonymous convention focuses on building community relationships
A panel at the Connecticut Regional Convention of Narcotics Anonymous Saturday focused on community outreach and building relationships with the public.
Norwich, New London get new grants to address addiction
Published January 5, 2019
Norwich, New London and six other municipalities recently received grants from the state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to combat the opioid crisis.
Researchers: Some fatal overdoses may be misclassified as 'accidental'
Researchers are looking into whether some fatal opioid overdoses are misclassified as “accidental” — and why it can be hard to tell.
Deadly Addiction: Heroin VIDEOS
OPINION
Rising 'deaths of despair' a national crisis
Recent bad news that overdose deaths are up again in the region is part of a bigger story of may people, particularly young people, drawn to addiction and suicide.
Busting a drug ring
That local businesses were implicated in the alleged laundering of drug money added to the disheartening and disconcerting aspects of this story.
Need for teen program shows extent of crisis
The program, which combines intensive therapy along with medication-assisted treatment, aims to prevent youth from falling deeper into addiction’s throes.
Continuing local progress in opioid fight
The ultimate measure of a new state law, a New London city ordinance, and a voluntary certification program for sober homes will be whether more addicts survive re-entry into daily life.
Story of hope
George Walker has moved forward, one day at a time, as have millions like him.