David Knauf 01-29-17

Meetings Showcase Darien’s Health Problems, Including Opiods, Alcohol, Stress, Mental Health

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Darien’s youth, not worried about having sex, are getting sexually transmitted diseases at the fastest rate in memory, making STD’s the town’s largest reported health problem. Meanwhile, the fastest growing public health problem in Darien is opioid use. Those were some of the findings from a health assessment Darien officials recently conducted in town and presented as part of a three-part series of public forums on health problems Darien residents should be watching out for. Opioid use was discussed on each of the past three Thursdays at the meetings in Darien Library, along with substance abuse in general, stress and other health problems that might be prevented if individual town residents take them seriously enough before the problems get too big. “Our health challenges are real, and many of us have been touched by what we’re here to discuss this evening,” First Selectman Jayme Stevenson said at the first meeting.