Wednesday
Wednesday
WednesdayBENNINGTON, Vt. -
Does arresting drug
dealers have an impact on drug use? Doctors in Bennington say they are seeing
evidence of that following a big drug roundup this week.
Police arrested 48
suspects Wednesday in a countywide drug sweep-- one of the largest of its kind
in Vermont history. It has apparently had an impact on the drug supply in the
area, because doctors at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center say they have seen
an increase in people suffering from drug withdrawal. Doctors say it's likely
that will continue for a week or more.
"It depends on how
long it takes the medication to clear out of someone's systems. People who use
very short-acting intravenous opiates like heroin tend to show up sooner. But
we know from the information that was released by police,
that a lot of longer-acting
opiate medications were also part of the operation," said Dr. Adam Cohen
of Southwestern Vermont Medical Center.
Cohen says users hooked on
drugs like cocaine or amphetamines might take several days to experience acute
withdrawal symptoms that would require medical attention.
Related Story:
Dozens arrested in Bennington drug sweep
