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Local organizations see fentanyl ‘everywhere’ and in ‘everything’

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Health departments and substance abuse resource centers emphasize kindness and education during National Prevention Week and on Tuesday for National Fentanyl Awareness Day. Turning Point Center of Chittenden County said right now, fentanyl is everywhere and in everything. The organization supports and offers aid to Vermonters and their families as they battle drug addiction and substance abuse. “Even with stimulants, there is a lot of fentanyl in those as well, so it’s very concerning,” Hilary Denton, recovery coach program manager, said.The Essex County, New York, health department said they’re prepared for the same thing when first responders head out to a potential overdose or any drug-related call. Meanwhile, the health department’s Essex County Heroin and Other Coalition (ECHO) now has better tracking for the number of deaths, overdoses, and other crucial information that they can use to make sure they are responding the way their community needs them to. “We assume all drugs could be laced with fentanyl at this point,” Linda Beers, public health director, said. “But, at no time in history, has it been that we have the best data collection systems in place, so what we couldn’t capture before, we’re really capturing now.”This year, Essex County has recorded seven overdoses. Two have been fatal.For more information on substance use and resources in Vermont, you can find more on the health department’s website.For more information on substance use and resources in New York, you can find more on the Office of Addiction Services and Supports’ website.

Health departments and substance abuse resource centers emphasize kindness and education during National Prevention Week and on Tuesday for National Fentanyl Awareness Day.

Turning Point Center of Chittenden County said right now, fentanyl is everywhere and in everything. The organization supports and offers aid to Vermonters and their families as they battle drug addiction and substance abuse.

“Even with stimulants, there is a lot of fentanyl in those as well, so it’s very concerning,” Hilary Denton, recovery coach program manager, said.

The Essex County, New York, health department said they’re prepared for the same thing when first responders head out to a potential overdose or any drug-related call.

Meanwhile, the health department’s Essex County Heroin and Other Coalition (ECHO) now has better tracking for the number of deaths, overdoses, and other crucial information that they can use to make sure they are responding the way their community needs them to.

“We assume all drugs could be laced with fentanyl at this point,” Linda Beers, public health director, said. “But, at no time in history, has it been that we have the best data collection systems in place, so what we couldn’t capture before, we’re really capturing now.”

This year, Essex County has recorded seven overdoses. Two have been fatal.

For more information on substance use and resources in Vermont, you can find more on the health department’s website.

For more information on substance use and resources in New York, you can find more on the Office of Addiction Services and Supports’ website.