Drug Overdose Death and Harm Reduction: the Vermont Overdose Prevention Network's Position
Channel: Town Meeting TV
Date: 2023-02-13

Key members of VOPN discuss Network views and policies related to preventing drug overdose death in Vermont. With guests Theresa Vezina, Mike Selick, and Joe Magee. 

Mike Selick is the Associate Director of Capacity building at National Harm Reduction Coalition. He has been a community organizer and advocate for human rights focusing on police accountability, inequality, drug use, sex work, homelessness, HIV, and Hepatitis C for more than 15 years. Prior to joining the organization 7 years ago, he worked at New York City harm reduction programs, first with a focus on public policy and peer training, and then as the Director of Services at a South Bronx syringe service program. Mike earned his Masters of Social Work with a concentration in Public Policy from Columbia University. Mike is currently based out of Burlington, Vermont.

Theresa Vezina is the Executive Director at Vermont CARES, the state's largest, longest running AIDS Service Organization providing Harm Reduction services in 11 of the 14 counties in Vermont. Theresa is a leader in our state, a person with lived and living experience of drug use and a proud of it. Her journey away from a life of self-destructive use and chaos began close to 20 years ago. She has devoted her life to working with and for people who use drugs. She has been in the harm reduction field for more than a decade and comes with a deep respect and love of the work. 

Joe Magee is a harm reduction advocate and person in recovery, working to breakdown stigma around addiction and mental health. He is also a Burlington City Councilor working to bring harm reduction practices into municipal policymaking.

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