BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - A new multimillion-dollar study is kicking off in Vermont.

Its goal is to find out what barriers exist for people with substance use disorder in accessing health care.

400 Vermont drug users who inject, inhale, and snort will take surveys about drug use trends and what services they access.

They’ll be studied and paid in cash over the next five years.

“What are the factors that impede on their ability to access addiction services and treatment programs?” said Devika Singh with the Larner College of Medicine.

Singh and Jessica Kirby are leading the study. Singh’s background is in infectious diseases. Kirby works for the Vermonters for Criminal Justice Reform with people impacted by substance use disorder, HIV, Hepatitis C, and overdoses.

“We have a really high

See Full Page