Bridgeport Health Center Gets Federal Funds To Help Fight Heroin Addiction

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- Bridgeport residents who struggle with heroin addiction will find it easier to receive help with the award of $325,000 in federal funds to Bridgeport-based Optimus Health Care to expand their treatment efforts of people with substance abuse problems.

Bridgeport's Optimus Health Care, Inc., will receive $325,000 in federal funds to help combat the growing heroin addiction problem.
Photo Credit: *flickr*

K Reakes

03/15/2016 10:30 a.m.

Gov. Dannel Malloy recently announced the award of more than $2.5 million in federal funds by Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell to Optimus Health Care and six other health centers across the state in an effort to stem the escalation of heroin addiction.

"This funding will no doubt provide help to those who need it. We must tackle prescription opioid and heroin use - this is a growing problem nationwide that Connecticut is working hard to combat," Malloy said. "I applaud HHS and Secretary Burwell for investing in our community health centers so they can expand and build upon the critical services they provide our residents."

Funding was awarded to the following health centers in the state:

Bridgeport: Optimus Health Care, Inc., $325,000
East Hartford: First Choice Health Centers, Inc., $406,250
Hartford: Community Health Services, Inc., $325,000
Middletown: Community Health Center, Inc., $379,167
New Haven: Cornell Scott-Hill Health Corp., $406,250
New Haven: Fair Haven Community Health Clinic, Inc., $352,083
Waterbury: Staywell Health Care, Inc., $325,000

"We know that treatment works and recovery is possible. These additional funds will allow our community health centers to expand their substance abuse services so we can get more people into treatment and on the path to recovery," said Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, commissioner of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. "We are thankful for the support from the federal Department of Health and Human Services as we fight the battle against addiction."

The awards, to health centers across the country, will increase the number of patients screened for substance use disorders and connected to treatment, increase the number of patients with access to medication-assisted treatment for opioid use, and provide training to help health professionals make informed prescribing decisions.

Residents seeking treatment and services for an opioid addiction are now able to call 1-800-563-4086 24-hours-a-day to be connected to a walk-in assessment center in their area.

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