February 2024
February 22, 2024
Dear Legislator:
I appreciate having the opportunity to speak up in support of overdose prevention sites. In 2017 our
eldest son Sean, died of an overdose of fentanyl, at age 27. At the time of his overdose, he was at a
party celebrating his paycheck, he went to the restroom, and it wasn’t until he had been gone for about
15-20 minutes that his friends noticed that he wasn’t responsive. His friends thought he was showering,
he was due to meet us (his parents) for dinner. Sean was revived but suffered brain death. He was
removed from life support and donated his heart liver and kidneys.
Sean overdosed in downtown Burlington, 2 blocks from where a proposed overdose prevention site is
planned. He would have used a site if it was available. Our son was a sporadic user of opiates and
stimulants, he was always employed and a contributing member of society.
Sean’s substance accelerated while he was in the US Navy, beginning in 2011, he was stationed in
Groton, CT at the submarine base. This was the first time I realized he was using opiates, to cope with
the stress of military life. He use continued to worsen, eventually leading to a lifetime of use, recovery,
frequent hospitalizations and even misdemeanor charges.
I have seen how our government responded so favorably to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time of my
our son’s death fentanyl had been widespread for over 2 years. I only wish the opiate crisis had received
half the attention that the COVID-19 pandemic has received. We are losing so many young people and
no one can recover from substance use if they die of an overdose.
I work as a physician in OBGYN and in the substance use field. In addition, I work with newly bereaved
parents with a group called Team Sharing Vermont. I’ve witnessed so much loss over the last several
years it’s hard to even quantify it in words. I organize an overdose awareness day event yearly to
commemorate those lost. I sincerely hate to think of the numbers that we have lost this past year.
The science tells us that overdose prevention sites save lives, reduce syringe and paraphernalia litter,
and connect people to treatment. I have visited such sites in Canada and found that they are clean,
clinic-like atmospheres with warmth and caring staff.
I know Vermonters are very compassionate and I hope we can expand this compassion to those who use substances.
Kimberly D. Blake MD
for-kindness 