Vermont receives $4 million to fight opioid problem

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. (AP) - Vermont will receive $4 million in federal funding to help combat the opioid crisis.

The Brattleboro Reformer reports the funds are part of $4.6 billion effort in the federal budget. Vermont Health Commissioner Mark Levine says the funding will help with prevention, treatment and recovery.

U.S. Rep. Peter Welch met with leaders and residents in Newport City this week to hear their concerns about the opioid problem. The Democrat thinks federal funding will help local communities. He hopes the money reaches first responders and treatment centers.

Vermont has established a nationally recognized hub and spoke system comprised of regional treatment centers as hubs and clinicians who treat opioid use disorders in their own practices as spokes. The state has also made progress by instituting a prescription monitoring system.

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Information from: Brattleboro Reformer, http://www.reformer.com/