Brooke didn’t come downstairs the next morning. Brooke was found by her older sister in her bedroom. The toxic mixture of powerful opioid fentanyl and xylazine that she had taken in excess was what caused her overdose. This is a common illicit drug source, especially in the Northeast.
Deb Walker, Deb’s mother, said that her death “just ripped us apart to shreds.” She has four other children.
Brooke was using drugs, but I didn’t know. She said that she was certain that Brooke did not know about the drugs.
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report this fall revealed that xylazine was responsible for fatal drug overdoses across 23 states in 2019. The Northeast had the highest rate (67%). Officials stated that the animal sedative is used to sedate animals such as cows, horses and sheep in veterinary medicine. It is also being added to heroin and fentanyl as a cutting agent.
However, unlike opioids there is no specific antidote for a xylazine-overdose like Narcan or naloxone.
Animal tranquilizers are not controlled substances and have not been approved for human consumption. The CDC warns that xylazine can increase the danger of fatal overdose when it is used in illicitly manufactured opioids.
“If someone’s taking xylazine overdose or heroin with xylazine cut, that naloxone will not have much effect on that part of the overdose,” Dr. Scott Hadland, an addiction physician and chief of young adult medicine at MassGeneral Hospital for Children in Boston, said.
Hadland stated that supportive measures can be taken if the person is treated promptly, including resuscitation and fluids. He said that this overdose is more difficult to manage in the community as it involves multiple substances, including opioids.
The rate of overdose deaths from xylazine was 1.2%. However, the report suggests that animal tranquilizer detection might be underestimated. This is because routine post-death toxicology testing “may not have included tests to detect xylazine” and current protocols for testing for xylazine do not conform to international standards.
Hadland stated that although it has been ongoing for some time, there are many indications from local authorities suggesting that the problem is getting worse, especially in the Northeast.
According to the CDC report, overdose deaths were also caused by heroin or cocaine. Fentanyl was the most commonly prescribed drug.
We know that fentanyl is in the drug supply. It’s in heroin supply. So often, when people think they’re buying heroin, they’re actually getting fentanyl. Hadland stated that he believes that’s what’s going on with xylazine. You think you’re getting heroin, but you get something made with xylazine.
Overdose deaths nationwide have been on the rise for more than 20 years, but they jumped 30% in the last year. According to health officials, the rise is due to the COVID-19 epidemic and an increase in the supply of dangerous drugs.
According to the Vermont Department of Health, there were 15 fatal overdoses in Vermont in the first seven month of 2019. This is a drastic increase from five deaths in 2020.
Commander of the Vermont State Police drug unit Lt. Casey Daniell said that it is common to see xylazine among the results for drugs police are buying undercover.
He stated that the main problem is that it’s not controlled and therefore there is no regulation. It’s not different from aspirin, so it isn’t possible to charge people for distribution.
Walker claims that Walker poisoned her daughter.
Walker stated that drug and addiction were a frequent topic in their conversations because Goodwin was helping friends who were addicted.
“She was trying help them out. Walker stated that she did all she could to help them get clean, and they pulled her down.” Walker made the remarks while walking by Goodwin’s grave earlier in the month.
She said that the more information about xylazine is out there, the better.
“There are many people who would prefer not to be (using) it and haven’t been successful in doing so. Walker stated that those people might be the ones that actually understand and hear what Walker is saying.
Brooke lived with her mother and worked at Precision Valley Communications. Precision Valley Communications is a mapping, engineering, and design company for the telecommunications, utility and industries. Brooke was also a CAD operator.
“All of my coworkers thought she was amazing and everyone was so stunned. She didn’t know. Although she wasn’t an addict, she was still using.”
Brooke passed away on March 14, 2021 two days after her birthday, and one day before her mother. According to Brooke’s obituary, she “loved her dog, photography and road trips, and investigating the supernatural.”
People who attended her funeral were encouraged to wear costumes. Brooke’s 9-year-old twin sisters are now asking her mother if they will buy Brooke a Christmas present.
Haley Decelle, Brooke’s friend, said that Brooke was kind, calm, and level-headed. They had been on many road trips together and had matching tattoos. Decelle is now pregnant.
She said, “It sucks. We always talked about doing this stuff together when we got pregnant.” “And now, I don’t get the chance to do it.”
