The prosecutor in Vermont's most populous county has asked a committee of health and law enforcement professionals to look at the possibility of setting up a safe injection site for heroin and other opioid users in order to reduce overdoses and get addicts more treatment.
The site would provide medical supervision, overdose-reversal drugs, clean needles and access to treatment.
Chittenden County State's Attorney Sarah George discussed the concept during a forum on Burlington’s opioid crisis last week. “I do have a commission that’s looking at it. It’s one of my first initiatives as state’s attorney. But I have no opinion about whether or not they’re a good idea or not. I just think that we really do owe to ourselves to look into them and determine whether or not we can do them in our community.”
A handful of U.S. cities are considering the option even though the sites violate federal law.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2017. All rights reserved.
