The nonmedical use and abuse of prescription drugs is a serious public health problem in the US. The abuse of opioid prescription drugs can lead to a variety of adverse health effects, including addiction. In Connecticut, the nonmedical use of prescription pain relievers declined from 2010-2011 to 2012-2013, but slightly increased in 2013-2014. Some factors that may have contributed to this increase was in the increase in the number of prescriptions dispensed, greater social acceptability for using medications for different purpose, and aggressive marketing by pharmaceutical companies.

Potential Partners
Connecticut Department of Public Health, Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, State
Department of Education, Connecticut Department of Children and Families, Connecticut Office of the Healthcare
Advocate, Connecticut Department of Correction, Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, The
Governor’s Prevention Partnership, Connecticut Suicide Advisory Board, health care facilities and clinics, primary
care and behavioral health providers, professional associations focused on substance abuse prevention and
treatment, faith-based organizations, legal system including court support services, other organizations and
coalitions that focus on addiction and recovery, community service providers for families and youth, and others.

For current year strategies and actions, click here (right click to open link).

Potential Strategies

Educate and inform consumers about the risks and benefits of regulated products, using strategies appropriate to culture, language, and literacy skills (e.g., prescription drug safety and side effects, public health alerts, general information about safe and appropriate medication use).

Educate health care professionals on proper opioid prescribing, brief screening, intervention, referral, and treatment, and effective use of prescription drug monitoring programs.

Educate and inform consumers on the risks and benefits of regulated products using strategies appropriate to culture, language, and literacy skills (e.g., prescription drug safety and side effects, public health alerts, general information about safe and appropriate medication use).

Facilitate controlled drug disposal programs, including official prescription take-back events and local drop-boxes.

Educate prescribers on the benefits of the Connecticut Prescription Monitoring and Reporting System (CPMRS).

Explore opportunities to review aggregate data from the Connecticut Prescription Monitoring and Reporting System, to identify prevention opportunities.