At a widely covered press conference in December 2015, then-governor Peter
Shumlin announced that a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services would allow the state to start providing Vivitrol to inmates about to be released from prison, as well as to patients at residential treatment facilities.
Vivitrol reduces cravings and blocks opiate highs for about a month. For inmates who haven’t been able to access treatment such as methadone or Suboxone while in prison, it can serve as a bridge, giving them some stability while they line up a longer-term recovery plan. Studies have shown that recently incarcerated people are at a heightened risk of overdosing.
The initiative attracted national attention when it was launched, but it’s only benefited a handful of inmates. DOC has administered 11 injections since the start of the three-year pilot in 2016 — 10 at Marble Valley Regional Correctional Facility in Rutland, where the program was first launched, and one at Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility in South Burlington.
“That doesn’t sound like a lot, but it’s a lot compared to what we started with. For months and months and months we were at one person, so an increase to 11 is actually pretty good,” said Corrections Commissioner Lisa Menard.
Her explanation for the slow start? “It just doesn’t seem to be something that the inmate population has embraced yet.”
But it’s unclear how many inmates are aware of the option.
Menard observed that “it wouldn’t be inappropriate to put up signs and pamphlets” informing inmates that they can get Vivitrol at no cost, but facilities don’t do this.
“We’re not actively advertising,” confirmed health services director Ben Watts. Menard said she believes case managers and health services staff do ask inmates if they’re interested in trying Vivitrol.
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Sounds like those in charge are not exactly sure whats going on. Statements like “I believe” are patently ambiguous
Vivitrol blocks opioid receptors. After you’re injected, you take an opioid and feel nothing. This obviously reduces your motivation to pursue opioids. It lasts about a month. This could be a great help to many people about to exit the system and needs to be AGGRESSIVELY PROMOTED to them (but not forced of course). There also needs to be at least one followup dose for those who want it.
Can we get some energy into this project, please? A brochure doesn’t cut it. Be pro-active. Give a couple of talks to every prisoner. Provide incentives. ETC. What is with the half assed way everything in government is done? (and I am not a conservative).
The present administrators of the Dept. of “Corrections” seem capable of only 2 functions: 1) Administering security and 2) Advertising their claims towards rehabilitation, while actually doing very little in that regard.
One would think that recent reports concerning the torture, neglect and abuse at the “Supplementary Facility” in Pennsylvania, as well as within State failures, such as this article reveals, would prompt the Governor to take some action. Following the death of 7 prisoners in 2003, then Governor Douglas hired a pair of attorneys not affiliated with the State to conduct an independent investigation. Their Report shook things up for a time. It is still availabe online at: http://www.doc.state.vt.us/about/reports/marks-mc…
It is past time for the current Governor to get off his butt.
so were did the money go???? same thing as the pilot program called jfi 3.8 million in two years were is all that money gone yet vt.still 45 million short on budget hummm whats really going on here ???
DOC doesn’t seem able to help itself let alone the people under its charge. Good grief, it’s been two years and only 11 people have gotten the drug??? And how many have died within weeks of discharge? That would be a useful number to learn in light of the Department’s failure to do its job. In fact the families of the dead parolees might well want to question whether the Department has been doing its job. It’s relying on its counselors to do the work and we all know they are vastly overworked and probably underpaid. Given that Shummy made this a state emergency in his State of the State address a few years back, you’d think that might light a fire in someone’s head at the Department. Or don’t they have any?
Why don’t you actively advertise, “health services director Ben Watts”?Yes, 11 is a lot more than one, but who’s doing what with the $3 MILLION Vermont received from the feds? Hmmm? Please, will someone with power look into this?