February 15, 2014
Three Addison County deaths were fentanyl overdoses MIDLEBURY Ñ Vermont health and public safety officials are warning local heroin addicts that illegal product sold as heroin and packaged in the same manner as heroin may instead contain pure fentanyl or fentanyl-laced heroin. The Vermont Department of Health has just confirmed the cause of three deaths in Addison County in January to be overdoses from pure fentanyl. Fentanyl is an opioid drug that is up to 50 times more powerful than heroin, 100 times more potent than morphine, and much deadlier. FentanylÑ also known as fentanil, brand names, Abstral, Actiq, Duragesic, Durogesic, Fentora, Haldid, Instanyl, Lazanda, Matrifen, Onsolis, and Sublimaze, among othersÑ is a potent, synthetic opioid analgesic with a rapid onset and short duration of action. It has been used to treat pain and is commonly used in pre-procedures as a pain reliever as well as an anesthetic in combination with a benzodiazepine. Fentanyl is approximately Ò Heroin users may not know they are shooting up fentanyl, or they may not know just how deadly it is,Ó said Health Commissioner Harry Chen, MD. Ò Even a very small amount of pure fentanyl, just a few grains, can stop your breathing and kill.Ó Police said they are developing information about the source and distribution of the deadly drug.
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Report: Forestbased economy important By Lou Varricchio newmarketpress@ denpubs.com MONTPELIER Ñ The NEFA, the North East State Foresters Association and the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation have released a report detailing the economic Importance of VermontÕ s forest-based economy. The report highlights the various sectors of VermontÕ s economy that depend on wood, forests, and trees. The total economic value of VermontÕ s forest economy is pegged at over $3.4 billion dollars for 2012. Ò Forest-based manufacturing and CONTINUED ON PAGE 14
CYCLOCROSS COMPETITOR — Competitive bicyclist Cooper Willsey of Hinesburg finished an impressive seventh in the Junior 17/18 Category at the United States National Cyclocross Championship held in Boulder, Colo., last month. He then moved on to finish—in good international company—in the twenty-ninth spot at the crowded Men’s Junior Category of the World Cyclocross Championships held Feb. 1 in Hoogerheide, Netherlands. Thijs Aerts of Belgium won the junior world cyclo-cross title. Pictured: Willsey at the Cyclocross World Championships in the Netherlands, Feb. 1.
Consumer demand continues to grow for raw milk
A new report shows demand for raw milk is on the rise in Vermont. Rural Vermont photo
HINESBURG Ñ Rural Vermont has released the 2013-14 report on raw milk production and sales. For the fifth year since the passage of Act 62, which enables the direct sale of raw milk by farmers to consumers, Although, there is growing consumer demand for raw milk, Vermont famers consistently report that current regulations need to be amended to make raw milk production more economically viable for farmers and practical for consumers. The report was presented to the House Committee on Agriculture and Forest Products on Feb 4 and will be presented to the Senate Committee on Agriculture in the near future. The report is based on the results of the 2013 Raw Milk Survey conducted by Rural Vermont this past fall. Surveys were completed by 110 individual farmers, 80 of whom are currently selling raw milk. . In addition, to conducting the survey, Rural Vermont spent the past year hosting community meetings all over the state to gather Vermont farmersÕ concerns about the raw milk law. This outreach campaign culminated with Rural VermontÕ s Ò Raw Milk SummitÓ held at the end of October in Bethel. The summit drew participation by over 60 farmers (representing 42 farms).