Statement attributed to: CSMS President Steven Thornquist, MD and Gregory Shangold, MD, and Mark Kraus, MD, CO Chairs of the CSMS Opioid Committee
The Connecticut State Medical Society (CSMS) strongly supports the Surgeon General’s advisory on naloxone. Surgeon General Adams, Connecticut physicians, first responders, public health professionals and patient advocates all recognize that naloxone can and does save lives and can be an essential tool in our continued fight against the opioid epidemic in Connecticut. We believe that public awareness is critical to help in this battle and we believe that patients, spouses and significant others, family members, friends and even colleagues should not hesitate to ask their physicians to prescribe naloxone so they can help save their own or their loved one’s lives in a time of need. Connecticut has made naloxone available through a physician’s prescription or pharmacist. All forms of naloxone should be readily available and covered by health insurance plans with minimal or no cost-sharing to the patient or family member. Since naloxone has a relatively short duration, it does not replace calling 911 or performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The CSMS will work closely with the American Medical Association (AMA) and looks forward to working closely with the Surgeon General’s Office to help bring an end to the epidemic of opioid overdose deaths.
