This commentary is by Tiffanie Katsuva. She lives in Colchester and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health degree at George Washington University.
Vermont joined the $7.4 billion national opioid settlement with Purdue Pharma, and the state is set to receive about $21.85 million.
This is an important step toward accountability,but the real important question is how would the fund be used. For this settlement to make an impactful difference for all Vermont families, it needs to be invested in prevention and in the people who do the everyday work of recovery in our communities.
Every day recovery coaches and small community based programs show up for people who are navigating substance use and recovery. They are the ones answering calls, sitting in ERs and in recovery centers, connecting people to care and walking beside them through relapse and recovery.
These are the people who keep the recovery system alive,yet they are often underpaid, undervalued and overworked. The settlement funds should make sure they are paid fairly, receive proper employment benefits such as health insurance and paid time off, and are supported with the tools and resources they need — including educational programs — to continue their life-saving work.
The settlement should also focus on prevention, not only on treatment after the harm has happened. Vermont can lead by investing in community programs and education that reflect on all people who live here. That means prevention campaigns and materials that reach everyone in Vermont, Including LGBTQI+ Vermonters, former refugees and immigrants, youth, older adults and people living in rural areas. Addiction affects all of us, but not everyone has equal access to information, language or care.
We also need to train the people providing care, including nurses, physicians and recovery coaches, to meet people where they are with empathy and understanding. Cultural awareness, trauma-informed care and humanity should be at the heart of every service. When people do not feel seen or understood, they are less likely to ask for help, and that can have devastating consequences.
The settlement funds should also help expand recovery-friendly workforces and include recovery coaches in schools, hospitals, and police departments. These are the places where prevention can start early and where people can find support before things get worse. Imagine every high school in Vermont having a recovery coach students can talk to, or hospitals connecting patients directly to recovery coaches. That is what real prevention looks like.
Transparency and accountability are also important. The state should make sure Vermonters can see where every dollar is spent. A public website and regular updates on how the funds are used would help build trust and make sure the money reaches the people who need it the most.
This settlement cannot undo the pain the opioid crisis has caused, but it can help us build something better. It is a chance to create lasting change instead of another short-term fix.
By investing in prevention, paying recovery coaches fairly and supporting community programs that meet people where they are, Vermont can move closer to a future where recovery is possible for all Vermonters.
