Governor Shumlin Delivers State of State Address

On Wednesday, Jan. 8, Gov. Peter Shumlin utilized his State of the State Address to tackle an issue that had not previously been addressed. Shumlin used all 34 minutes of his address to voice his concerns regarding the heroin and other opiate-based drug addictions that are pervasive in the state of Vermont.

Governor Shumlin declared the epidemic a “full-blown heroin crisis.” He also expressed concern over the state’s future if things continue the way they are, stating that the addiction “threatens the safety that has always blessed our state.”

Governor Shumlin pointed to the fact that last year, the number of heroin-related deaths doubled from the previous year. Additionally, since 2000, there has been a 770 percent increase in the need for treatment for this addiction. Governor Shumlin stated his intention to shift the focus from a punitive reaction to a more rehabilitative response.

“We must address it as a public health crisis, providing treatment and support, rather than simply doling out punishment, claiming victory, and moving on to our next conviction,” he said in his address.

Shumlin explained that there is a severe lack of treatment facilities in the state and that this is a problem considering how many people are struggling with opiate addiction. He recommended that the Legislature allocate $200,000 to this cause immediately. In doing so, he pointed to the upwards of 500 citizens who have expressed a strong desire to receive treatment but are sitting on waitlists for programs.

There has been ambivalence in some communities regarding the construction of new treatment facilities, but Shumlin called on officials to enact change on this front.

“The time has come for us to stop quietly averting our eyes from the growing heroin addiction in our front yards while we fear and fight treatment facilities in our backyards,” he said.

The governor introduced another element of his plan that would allow those already convicted of possessing heroin the chance to forego incarceration and instead seek a structured treatment program. Again, this initiative is dependent on the construction of new facilities.

However, Shumlin’s proposal did not only seek to ease penalties. It also suggested coming down harder on individuals guilty of selling heroin, which, as the governor said, should “help ensure that high volume dealers who bring drugs into our state to prey upon Vermonters in pursuit of profits will suffer the consequences.”

The proposal seems to have generated mixed results. Most Democrats are pleased with Shumlin’s ideas, and most Republicans are not as thrilled about the fact that he devoted his entire message to a single issue.

Representative Heidi Scheuermann from Stowe, Vt. is one such Republican. “We do have to tackle addiction, but people day after day are asking me about healthcare,” Scheuermann told the New York Times. She felt that Shumlin’s address was mostly a distraction from the confusion surrounding the current healthcare chaos.

On the other hand, Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont released a statement on his website praising Shumlin’s proposal.

“I commend the Governor and the Vermont Legislature for making this a top priority for the new session,” Leahy said.

“We need all hands on deck to fight heroin and opiate addiction in Vermont, and the Governor has proposed answers that can draw strength from all parts of our community.”

The proposal will now be evaluated by the Judiciary committees in the House and Senate, both of which have Democrat majorities.