Middletown Health Department Participating In Landmark Initiative

MIDDLETOWN, CT — Middletown’s Health Department is joining the Governor’s Prevention Partnerships for a first-of-its-kind program to address substance misuse through a robust public awareness campaign.

The program, “Prevention Starts With You,” raises awareness about the vital role adults play in youth substance abuse prevention and the safe deactivation of unwanted or unneeded prescription drugs through new on-demand prevention technology and training.

“We are proud to work with the great partners who have joined our “Prevention Is You” initiative,” Kelly Juleson, Co-President of The Governor’s Prevention Partnership, said. “When it comes to prevention, the numbers don’t lie. Young people with caring adults in their lives who talk to them about avoiding drugs and alcohol are 50% less likely to use later down the road.”

Middletown Health Department, along with other organizations and agencies in the region, will distribute a total of 50,000 conversation starters and drug deactivation and disposal pouches to residents of Greater Hartford and New Haven over the next 11 months.

“Medicine cabinets are ticking time bombs,” Senator Richard Blumenthal said. “They’re full of stuff that is dangerous – opioids, painkillers, potentially addictive substances. We need to get them out of the medicine cabinets, get them out of homes… and dispose of them in a way that is safe health-wise and environmentally... and that’s what these [pouches] will do.”

The pouches can be used anywhere and thrown into regular household trash, eliminating the risk of misuse and a negative environmental impact. The initiative is expected to result in the elimination of more than two million unwanted pills or medications.

“Prevention Starts With YOU” is a Congressionally Directed Spending project secured with the assistance of U.S. Senators Blumenthal and Chris Murphy and is funded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

“Prevention is one of the most effective tools we have to tackle the opioid epidemic. The federal funding we secured for this campaign is going to help save thousands of lives by ensuring kids know the dangers of misusing prescription drugs,” Murphy said. “No community has been spared in this crisis, and as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I’m continuing to push for funding that supports prevention and recovery efforts in our state.”