New London — They carried signs saying "Get the H off the street," and "Say nope to dope," and for a little while Thursday evening, more than 200 people attending a candlelight vigil on the Parade Plaza were among others who understood their suffering.

Lisa Cote Johns of Montville, whose son, Christopher, died of a heroin overdose in October 2014, carried a blown-up photograph of her son and told his story to anyone who asked.

Christopher Johns, who aspired to be a doctor, had become addicted to opiates after being prescribed pain pills following a couple of surgeries, his mother said. He eventually started using heroin, and it cost him his life.  

Johns is one of the founding members of Community Speaks Out Inc., a newly formed nonprofit group that works with families of heroin and opiate addicts.

The group runs support groups, conducts educational programs and has helped get 22 people into rehabilitation programs in the past three months.

They organized the vigil after hearing of the recent surge of heroin overdoses in the region.

During the vigil, Waterford emergency medical crews administered Narcan to a female patient who was overdosing on heroin. Police confirmed the incident but said they could not provide details due to privacy concerns.

"They're our people," Joe de la Cruz of Groton, a founding member of Community Speaks Out, told the gathering. "They're our family, and they're sick."  

De la Cruz and his wife, Tammy decided to speak out about the opiate problem after their son became addicted to pain pills. Joey Gingerella is doing well in recovery, de la Cruz said, even though he was devastated this week to learn that a friend he roomed with at a rehab center had died of an overdose.

Even though it was raining lightly during the vigil, family members of addicts seized the opportunity to network with others who are struggling to ask for help. There were speeches, prayers, handshakes, hugs and tears.

A young woman stood by an easel that held a painting of Madisen Vail of Stonington, who was just 21 when she died last month from an overdose. 

Displaying the painting at the vigil was how she chose to remember "Maddie," said the childhood friend of Vail, who wasn't ready to talk about it publicly.

Lori Forbes of Uncasville and her two daughters wore shirts saying, "Shoot your local heroin dealer."

"I have a son," Forbes said. "He's overdosed 10 times. That bad batch of heroin went around over the weekend, and he had to get out of here."

Lawrence + Memorial Hospital treated 21 overdose patients between Jan. 27 and Tuesday, an unprecedented number, according to hospital officials. At least three overdose deaths occurred in the region.

At the vigil, New London Mayor Michael Passero praised the first responders who have been saving the lives of overdose patients by administering the opiate antidote, Narcan.

"I'm so sorry for your losses you have suffered and that people are going through this," said Jeanne Milstein, the city's new human services director. She promised to "roll up her sleeves" and work on the issue.

Julie Kenny, whose son, Sean Madec, died in January 2012 after overdosing on heroin and cocaine, sat on the plaza steps with her daughter and granddaughter. Thursday would have been Madec's 23rd birthday, and the family brought balloons and cupcakes to mark the occasion.

"This is a disease," said state Rep. Ernest Hewett, D-New London. "We have to start treating it like a disease, not stigmatizing families. Thanks for coming out. This is what New London is all about."

Members of the recovery community circulated through the gathering handing out fliers and messages of hope even though they, too, have been saddened by the recent events.  

"It's out of control," said Frankie Novajovsky of Reformers Unanimous, a faith-based recovery program. "I learned of a kid who passed away over the weekend. I feel like I'm watching a train wreck."

William "Will" Huntington, 31, of Montville, a standout athlete who most recently was working as a Crossfit instructor and personal trainer, died in Ledyard Saturday of a suspected prescription narcotic overdose, according to police. 

Jim Spellman, whose education and prevention group, Shine a Light on Heroin is working with Community Speaks Out, noted the addiction problem is not just in the city. It's in Westerly and Mystic and in every community in the state.

"I'm so happy to see this happening," said Ceci Iliff of Gales Ferry. "I have not lost anybody yet, but we have struggled in my family."

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on Thursday proposed legislation that would require first responders to be equipped with and prepared to administer naloxone, or Narcan, to overdose patients.

The legislation also would prohibit commercial health carriers from requiring prior authorization for coverage of naloxone.

Since 2014, Connecticut State Police troopers have saved 63 lives under a state law that authorizes anyone to administer Narcan to someone they believe is suffering from opiod overdose.

k.florin@theday.com

Twitter: @KFLORIN