Overdose Prevention Center Takes a Big Step Forward

Endorsing the work of a compassionate, data-driven project team, our Progressive City Councilors were joined by their Democratic seat mates in unanimously approving an Overdose Prevention Center (OPC) proposal on April 28th.  The unanimous vote of the Council supporting the plan came after every member of the public comment who spoke to the plan expressed strong support. We heard from healthcare professionals, nonprofit leaders, neighbors, former skeptics, parents, folks in recovery, and people with drug-related family loss. Speakers related personal experiences with loss due to drug overdoses, the gap in existing services that lead to unnecessary deaths, and the need for humane, science-based harm reduction strategies.

While no one tool is a silver bullet, the science is clear: Overdose Prevention Centers reduce public drug use, reduce syringe litter, reducing overdose deaths, decrease the strain on our first responders, and increase health outcomes for those struggling with substance use.

You need a strong team in order to see effective results and we are fortunate as a city to have that team in place. The city’s side is being led by Theresa Vezina, Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak’s Special Assistant on Overdose Prevention. We’ve chosen Vermonters for Criminal Justice Reform (VCJR) to serve as the primary service provider. VCJR has extensive experience in this space and has longstanding relationships with the population an OPC will serve.

City Councilor Carter Neubieser said, “The OPC plan reflects Burlington’s ethic of taking care of each other, making data-informed decisions, working with strong local organizations, and trusting skilled, trained, experienced professionals.  The OPC is not a ‘silver bullet’, but it will be an important tool in our toolkit in preventing deaths, reducing disease transmission and improving community safety.”

If approved by the State, the Burlington OPC will be funded through the Vermont Opioid Abatement Special Fund, derived from the state’s settlement of litigation with opioid manufacturers and distributors.  After State approval, the project team will identify an OPC location, secure permit approvals, prepare the new site for clinical use, hire and train staff, and expand support services linked to the new OPC – all with regular community engagement.  

For more information, check out  the full OPC proposal here: https://burlingtonvt.portal.civicclerk.com/event/7137/files/attachment/8758