New England governors will meet next week to discuss the growing problem of opioid abuse and addiction in the region.
The June 17th meeting at Brandeis University is one of the recommendations from a task force appointed by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick which were released Tuesday. The focus will be on how to stop the flow of drugs across state lines. Berkshire County Sheriff Tom Bowler says highways like Interstate-91 from New Haven, Conn. to Vermont are key trade routes.
“Vermont has the same issues that we have,” Bowler said. “Vermont is not getting it from Massachusetts. In my opinion, we’ve always been getting it from New York.”
Governor Patrick declared a public health emergency in March after a rise in heroin overdoses. Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin has said the drug is causing a full-blown crisis in his state.
