Griswold officials are planning to honor state police troopers for fighting a growing drug abuse problem in town.
Town leaders have invited state police officials, including Commissioner Dora Schriro of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, to Town Hall on Thursday to thank troopers and announce a drug arrest spike in Griswold.
State police provide the town's law enforcement services and have targeted drug abuse as overdose deaths statewide have increased, particularly those involving heroin. Officials reported 325 accidental heroin overdose deaths in Connecticut last year, up from 174 in 2012.
State police Sgt. Shane Hassett told The Bulletin of Norwich that troopers used the antidote Narcan on nine overdose victims in Griswold over the past seven months. All but one of the attempts were successful.
A news conference will be held at 1 p.m.
