By Colleen Gundlach

Brian Ohler of Canaan attended Norfolk’s first-selectman debate on October 24 to advocate for increased drug education and awareness.

Drug addiction is a problem that knows no class. It affects the rich as well as the poor; the educated and the illiterate; the mentally ill and the healthy. It is a growing problem in Connecticut, where 306 citizens died from heroin overdose in 2014—that’s triple the rate from 2012. Several of them were residents of the Northwest Corner.

Brian Ohler of Canaan wants to stop this disturbing trend and feels that education is the first step. To this end, he has formed the United Coalition of Northwest Connecticut (UCNC), to open the door to discussion, provide support and devise ways to solve the growing problem in this area.

As an emergency medical technician and firefighter in North Canaan, Ohler has seen too many people die from drug overdoses. “Each time the tones go off for the ambulance I cringe,” he says, fearing it might be another overdose. From January through June of this year, 317 people died in this state from drug overdoses, and the number is estimated to increase to 634 by year’s end.

Area residents are becoming increasingly worried about the rampant problem. “The United Coalition of Northwest Connecticut was created as a result of residents reaching out to me regarding the need to have a stronger, collective and more effective voice when the concerns of the Northwest Corner need to be addressed. Members of the coalition are residents who have a desire to seek out the greater good in all aspects of life here,” says Ohler.

He sees public education as the first and most important step in tackling the drug problem. The coalition sponsored a Community Support Rally in Canaan early in October. Almost 90 people attended this rally, with standing room only in North Canaan Town Hall. The speakers included David Collins, Canaan’s interim resident state trooper, two representatives from Mountainside Treatment Center in Canaan (Executive Director Steve Langley and Outreach Coordinator Terry Dougherty) and Cynthia Mejorado-Flint, the outreach coordinator at High Watch Recovery Center in Kent. They all agreed that prevention is the key, and stressed that parents need to talk to their children about the dangers of drug use long before puberty.

A second Community Support Rally will be held at Sharon Town Hall on Saturday, October 31 at noon. “The feedback that the Coalition has received regarding our forum in North Canaan has been overwhelmingly positive. Area residents have urged us to continue these forums in as many towns as possible,” says Ohler.

There will be six expert panelists at the Sharon meeting. Trooper First Class Roy Dungan, a decorated 11-year veteran of the Connecticut State Police, will speak about the numerous challenges that the Northwest Corner faces today. Mejorado-Flint will discuss ways of helping people regain life through recovery. A representative from the McCall Foundation in Torrington will share current strategies for the prevention of opiate use, and treatment for addicts in our area.

There will also be three representatives from Sharon Hospital. Rebecca Rosen, the hospital’s program director for the Senior Behavioral Health Program, will discuss the devastating effects of addiction on the mentally ill. The director of Emergency Services, Pam George, will address the overdose issue from the vantage point of an ER nurse and Chief Quality Officer Lori J. Puff will discuss patient safety.

What Ohler would like people to take away from these community forums is the fact that there is help out there, for the poor as well as the rich, but stresses that elected officials also need to be held accountable. “Drug abuse is closely tied with mental and behavioral health issues,” he says, “but nothing is being done in the legislature. I want the voice of the United Coalition of Northwest Connecticut to be loud enough to make a difference.” He hopes to eventually establish a hotline where residents can access information and the help they need.

A board of directors for the coalition is currently being formed, and the group is working on applying for nonprofit status. To get more information, or to volunteer your services, contact Ohler at mustprotect@gmail.com, or 860-307-1135.

Photo by Bruce Frisch.

Correction: In the print version of this article, Brian Ohler was incorrectly described as a state representative. In fact, he ran in last year’s election against State Representative Roberta Willis (D) as the Republican candidate for the 64th district but was unsuccessful.