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A coalition of lawmakers and prosecutors, inspired by personal stories of struggle against addiction from Bennington state Rep. Dane Whitman and Newfane activist Brenda Siegel, marked National Recovery Day by calling for substantial changes refocusing the stateâs attention on the opioid epidemic as a health crisis.
Participants, including two stateâs attorneys and several lawmakers, said the state needs a harm reduction and science-based policy based on lived experience and prioritizing harm prevention and saving lives.
Siegel pointed to the increase in overdoses in Vermont last year, during the pandemic â 134 though November, according to preliminary figures â and said the stateâs âhub and spokeâ treatment system is only reaching three out of every 10 people who need treatment.