Issue Position: Opiate Epidemic

Issue Position

The issues associated with hard drugs in Vermont are not simple. Hooper would argue they are actually far more complex than the vast majority of Vermonters could generally fathom. Having spoken in depth about the problems that accompany addiction with dozens of people who have been affected directly and indirectly by it, Jay has been accumulating the contact information for numerous individuals who identify as experts on one dimension of opiate addiction or another. Hoping to construct a practical approach to dismantling the trends that lead to habitual usage of dangerous narcotics like heroin, Hooper will continue to research the matter on a regular basis by attending forums and meeting with specialists.

The proverbial 'war on hard drugs' doesn't necessarily need to entertain an increase in strict policy regarding the justice system's proceedings in response to drug violations, but rather, to entertain perspectives unexplored. To help our beloved Green Mountain State avoid anchoring a reputation as a state plagued by addiction, we need to make sure we're understanding the true nature of the problem, as opposed to approaching the subject with preconceived prejudices. Vermont has surpassed the point of no return, as the heroin epidemic has infiltrated Vermont's most populous settings. Alas, Governor Shumlin's latest 'State of the State' Address was all about this issue and other issues related to VT drug policy. Among his points, was the ensuing statement: "Two million dollars worth of heroin is pumped into Vermont each week, he said, and 80 percent of the state's inmates are in prison for drug crimes." (Gina Tron article in Politico Magazine, 2014). With the death toll rising annually, Vermonters who have fallen victim to the overwhelming drug problem desperately need our help, and those who will otherwise succumb to addiction, need the legislature to act on this issue of great priority. In many cases, heroin addiction is the product of neglect, and since the drug has the power to swallow an individual's free will by way of an ever-increasing chemical dependency, instances of overlooked mental illness too often result in death. If we are going to keep Vermont's youth on an upward trajectory for the sake of the State's political, economic, and developmental future, then we need to allocate the funding necessary to incorporate programs that steer users toward treatment instead of funneling victims toward punishment. Both introduced during the early months of 2015, the two House bills pertaining to public policy on heroin possession and distribution are still stuck in committee, but even so, they appear to be based on a political logic that embraces contradictory concepts. H.457 calls for legal consequences of impractical measures. Though it is obvious that heroin trafficking is highly criminal, exacerbating the penalties that correspond to violations of drug law won't reverse the momentum by which such a highly addictive substance like heroin spreads. We mustn't forget, that addiction isn't a concept that just any average joe can comprehend, because really only those who have experienced addiction can provide testimony as to the adversities that come with heroin.

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