The veterinary drug xylazine has become a favored diluting agent for fentanyl. During the first five months of this year, fentanyl figured in 71 out of 77 overdose deaths, with xylazine contributing to 19.
“We’re trying to rehabilitate people — and also our community,” said Gregory Tatro, whose late sister lives on through the nonprofit Jenna’s Promise recovery network in Johnson.
The tally for January to April is lower than the 67 deaths recorded in the same period last year, but it’s 22 percent higher than that of 2020.
Becca Balint and Molly Gray answered questions from the public on how they plan to provide more resources to Vermonters affected by substance use disorder.
The eight opioid deaths recorded in Vermont in March, which all involved fentanyl, were down from 12 in February and 23 in January, according to the latest state data — but state health officials cautioned it’s far too early to talk about a trend.
Vermont is in the midst of a “syndemic,” a synergy of epidemics: Covid-19 and drug overdose fatalities due to opioids and stimulants. But only Covid-19 is getting the attention it deserves.
State data shows that through November last year, 181 Vermonters died of an opioid overdose. By comparison, 157 fatal overdoses were reported in all of 2020.
Between January and June this year, 13 Vermonters died from opioid overdoses in which meth was also ingested. There were 10 such deaths for the whole of last year and two for 2019, state data shows.
Cardinal, McKesson, AmerisourceBergen and Johnson & Johnson are expected to pay up to $26 billion, but Vermont would get less than 1% of that total.
The legislation would allow anyone to possess up to 224 milligrams of the drug, which is prescribed to treat opioid addiction.
News Release -- Gov. Phil Scott Aug. 9, 2019 Contact: Rebecca Kelley 802-622-4047 [email protected] STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR PHIL SCOTT ON SENATOR LEAHY’S WORK TO ADDRESS ADDICTION IN VERMONT AND RURAL […]
News Release -- Health Resources and Services Administration May 17, 2019 Contact: Veronica P Roa Desk: (617)-565-1433 Cell: (617)-901-9387 HRSA releases $200,000 funding to Vermont for opioid epidemic The Health […]
According to a new report, 75 percent of the 11,000 Vermonters in treatment face housing insecurity.
The lawsuit brought in September alleges that the company had deceptively marketed the drug for years, leading to an opioid crisis gripping Vermont and the nation.
