Wheeler Sponsors, Participates in Fox61's "Faces of the Opioid Crisis"

UPDATED APRIL 26, 2017

Wheeler sponsored and participated in Fox61's "Faces of the Opioid Crisis,” a half-hour special examining the growing epidemic in Connecticut.

The unique special, hosted by Lorenzo Hall and Kaitlin Goslee, aired Tuesday, April 25 at 6 p.m. on FOX61, followed by a half-hour Facebook Live discussion with a panel of experts, including Wheeler's Alison Friar, LMFT, associate director, Adult Outpatient Services at Wheeler Health & Wellness Centers, who continued the conversation, fielding questions and offering support to those struggling with opioid addiction.

Watch the "Faces of the Opioid Crisis" special at Fox61.com.

Learn more about Wheeler's Addiction Center of Excellence. Treatment for adolescents and adults, including medication-assisted treatment for opioid and alcohol abuse.

The special exposed the growing crisis threatening Connecticut communities. “Faces of the Opioid Crisis” began with a message from Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy and featured the FOX61 team examining how our healthcare system is coping with the crisis, the impact it has on police departments and what’s being done to stop the flow of drugs into Connecticut. It also explored the challenges people in recovery face and investigated how state laws and insurance policies are changing to address the epidemic.

“Opioid addiction is a public health crisis impacting every community, and this program underscores the problem, as well as where individuals and families can turn for help,” said Susan Walkama, LCSW, president and chief executive officer, Wheeler Clinic. “We believe immediate access to effective treatment, including medication-assisted treatment, is critical to saving lives. Providing an accessible, integrated approach to primary and behavioral health care at Wheeler helps us ensure recovery is possible.”