Dozens gather to remember those who lost their battle to addiction in Burlington [Video]

HAVE IT. JACK. MATT. THANK YOU. THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC HAS HIT VERMONT. REALLY, REALLY HARD IN RECENT YEARS AND NEWER DRUGS LIKE XYLAZINE HAVE HIT THE MARKET, CREATING NEW CHALLENGES FOR SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS. BUT THIS EVENING IN BURLINGTON, THOSE ORGANIZATIONS, ALONG WITH LOCAL LEADERS, ARE HOLDING AN EVENT DAYS BEFORE INTERNATIONAL OVERDOSE AWARENESS DAY. THAT’S SATURDAY. THEY WANT TO REMEMBER PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR BATTLES WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS. NBC5’S STEPHEN BIDDIX IS LIVE IN CITY HALL PARK IN BURLINGTON. STEPHEN, WHAT’S GOING ON AT THAT EVENT TONIGHT? YES, JACK. SO THE EVENT JUST KICKED OFF AT 5:00. SO A FEW MINUTES AGO. AND AS YOU CAN SEE BEHIND ME, WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE HERE. WE HAVE TABLES WITH SUPPORT, HELP SET UP, BUT ALSO POSTERS OF VERMONTERS THAT LOST THEIR BATTLE WITH ADDICTION. THIS IS THE THIRD YEAR THIS EVENT IS TAKING PLACE, BUT THEY’RE ALSO CELEBRATING …