After three fatal overdoses in five days in Chittenden County, police and health officials are encouraging drug users to take precautions.
Two of the overdoses “clearly involved” opioids, according to Jackie Corbally, the Burlington Police Department’s drug, mental health, and homelessness policy manager. The third instance was a drug overdose, but it was not immediately clear to police that opioids were involved. The police department has ordered a toxicology report, which has not yet been completed.
According to Corbally, there was nothing unusual about the overdoses beyond their frequency — but that frequency has “caused [the department] concern.”
In addition to the three fatalities, Corbally said that the county has seen five nonfatal overdoses reported in the same timeframe. They have also heard of additional instances of overdose that did not result in a 911 call.
“No loss of life is OK. But when you have three individuals die in a short span of time, and you hear of nonfatal overdoses, it really calls us to pay attention,” Corbally said.
Some drug strains are more lethal than others, and it is possible that the deaths are a result of an especially dangerous batch of drugs in the region. But Corablly emphasized that fatality rates are dependent on a host of other variables, such as users’ access to the overdose-reversing drug naloxone and strips that test for fentanyl, a strong synthetic opioid. In January, for example, the area saw a spike of overdoses but only one fatality — a result that Corbally said could be because of access to life-saving interventions.
“We have probably had strains that have been just as dangerous. But all of those variables were in place so that we didn’t have loss of life,” Corbally said.
State Health Commissioner Mark Levine also emphasized the importance of preventative measures, noting that it is impossible to know the contents of street drugs. He said that those who use street drugs should assume the presence of fentanyl — detected in 82% of this year’s fatal overdoses, as of May — and act accordingly.
“This news and that of every overdose death is tragic,” Levine said in an emailed statement. “We have in place a treatment system that can help, but we must do all we can to keep people alive so they can begin their recovery.”
The current overdose spike comes after a year when Chittenden County made strides in decreasing opioid deaths. Opioid fatalities decreased by half, from 35 in 2017 to 17 in 2018. Burlington has also worked to increase access to opioid withdrawal medication, and the Department of Health has distributed naloxone kits to more than 40 public distribution sites statewide.
“There are many places nationwide that this would not be a spike for them,” Corbally said. “We’re really lucky in the sense that this is not the norm in our community.”
But the three recent fatalities represent almost 20% of 2018’s total number of deaths, and Corbally said it’s “been a while” since the area has seen a spike like this.
Jess Kirby, a Howard Center caseworker who helps those experiencing substance abuse, said that the Howard Center works to keep people informed whenever there is a spike in overdoses.
“We just make sure that we’re talking with people about the specific risks that are going on, making sure that every person that’s coming in is aware, and making sure that everyone that comes in is aware of the things they can do to reduce their risk,” Kirby said.
Kirby, Corbally, and Levine all also listed specific strategies that drug users and their loved ones can use to stay safe. That includes using drugs in groups, having access to naloxone, using fentanyl strips, and calling 911 in the case of emergency.
Kirby also noted that the Howard Center is a safe place for those who are struggling with drug abuse to access Narcan, testing strips, and treatment. For those in other parts of the state, the Department of Health has a directory of treatment and prevention information.
“Folks [should] know that there is treatment available if they’re ready,” Corbally said. “And if they’re not at that stage, make sure that they have those safeguards.”
