news had sued a Philadelphia nonprofit that was planning to open a site called Safehouse; the case is still pending in federal court. But Blackwood also noted that “potential leadership changes” at the White House could usher in a more accepting stance toward the sites. Indeed, political winds have shifted under President Joe Biden’s administration. Last month, the federal Department for Health &Human Services issued a report concluding that overdose-prevention sites could “represent a novel way” of addressing the nation’s opioid epidemic. And last week, New York City opened the nation’s first sites, where nine overdoses were reversed during their first few days of operating. Four of the city’s five district attorneys support the sites, and Mayor Bill de Blasio has promised “not to take enforcement action” against their operators, the New York Times reported. Vermont advocates still have George, the Chittenden County state’s attorney, in their corner. But the stance of Nikolas Kerest, the new U.S. Attorney for Vermont, is unknown. Kerest declined an interview with Seven Days about his position on overdose-prevention sites pending his confirmation in the U.S. Senate, which happened Tuesday night. George is optimistic that Biden’s administration wouldn’t go after Vermont, but she said she doesn’t personally know Kerest. “I would hope that our state would scream from the rafters if that was happening,” George said of federal criminal charges. “It’s certainly a fight I would take on with any ounce of power I have to do that. I would defend [overdose-prevention sites] with all it took, and I would hope the mayor would, too.” The mayor in question, Miro Weinberger, agreed that the recent step in New York City has made prevention sites a viable option in Burlington. “Now is the time to pursue this,” Weinberger said, adding that overdoseprevention sites are “getting to the top of the list of strategies that make sense.” Unanswered questions remain, however, such as where to put a site, and how to fund and staff it. Some proponents have suggested Howard Center, the Burlington nonprofit that has operated the Safe Recovery needle-exchange program for more than two decades, as the most sensible partner to operate the center. Baker, the Burlington advocate, has proposed using the state’s $60 million from a legal settlement with opioid manufacturers Cardinal Health and McKesson — with more anticipated from OxyContin makers Purdue Pharma — for the as-yet-unknown operating costs. 18
SEVEN DAYS DECEMBER 8-15, 2021
FILE: SEAN METCALF
Dope Idea « P.15
WE ARE OPEN TO ANY INTERVENTION THAT COULD HELP DECREASE OVERDOSE DEATHS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HOW THIS PROGRESSES IN BURLINGTON.
D E P UTY H E ALTH C O MMIS S IO NE R K E L LY D O UGH E R TY
Councilors first asked for a report examining the feasibility of opening an overdose-prevention site more than a year ago, but the process was delayed when its lead researcher left for a new job. The task has fallen to Marielle Matthews, the city’s public health equity manager, who was hired in February. Scott Pavek, a Burlington resident and former Vermont House candidate who is in recovery, has joined Matthews in his new role as the city’s substance use policy analyst. In an interview last week, both Matthews and Pavek declined to share their research. Pavek has advocated for an overdose-prevention site in Burlington for several years but said the city’s report will be an objective review of how one might operate in Burlington. Matthews agreed that the prospects are much brighter than just a year ago.
“There’s really nothing for communities to fear besides the loss of life by not implementing a robust harm-reduction strategy,” Matthews said. “I think the landscape is getting better and better for this kind of intervention to come to fruition.” There’s seemingly no partisan divide on the issue among local elected officials. Democratic Councilor Karen Paul (Ward 6) and Progressive Council President Max Tracy (Ward 2) have both been vocal proponents and agree that Burlington should move forward. Paul, who introduced the topic in 2018, thinks that Burlington could open a site by 2022, as long as there’s support from the community. “People should have the opportunity to understand what it is, where it’s going to be and what are the advantages of having this,” she said.
Still, the proposal is likely to garner criticism. Opponents often argue that the sites legitimize drug use and increase crime, despite evidence to the contrary, and residents would almost certainly speak out against a site in their neighborhood. Law enforcement officials aren’t always keen on the idea, though it’s unclear how Burlington’s acting police chief, Jon Murad, feels about prevention sites. Murad, a finalist for the permanent top cop job, didn’t respond to multiple Seven Days’ interview requests and hasn’t spoken to the newspaper since June. The state health department isn’t necessarily an ally, either. Health Commissioner Mark Levine served on the governor’s opioid council that recommended against overdose-prevention sites in 2018. The department is reviewing new research in light of Burlington’s plans, but officials are still concerned about the sites’ legality, deputy commissioner Kelly Dougherty said. She added that Vermont has limited drug prevention funds, and health officials wouldn’t want to undercut other treatment programs to pay for prevention sites. “I don’t think I can say our position has necessarily changed. I think that we are reexamining at this point,” Dougherty said. “We are open to any intervention that could help decrease overdose deaths. We look forward to seeing how this progresses in Burlington.” Grace Keller, coordinator for Howard Center’s Safe Recovery program, said it’s impossible to know how many lives an overdose prevention site would have saved last year, but she’s confident that people died because they used alone. In 1986, Switzerland opened the first overdoseprevention site, and more than 100 have since opened around the world. No one has died at one in the 35 years since. Keller, who is serving on a city committee that supports prevention sites in Burlington, is heartened by New York City’s early success. “We’re seeing that the sky didn’t fall,” Keller said. “That’s really what everybody needed, is somebody to go first, somebody to lead the way.” Baker thinks that his city is ready to carry the torch. A retired therapist, Baker said that when he began practicing, insurance companies would deny the claims he submitted for his patients’ drug and alcohol counseling. Society was equally unaccepting of methadone clinics and syringe service programs when they first started. Every step to help people in addiction has been a fight, Baker said, but he thinks that if the city backs an overdose-prevention site, it has a good chance of succeeding. “I’m an advocate, so I don’t stop trying,” he said. “I believe that Burlington will come through.” m