From revolving doors to real solutions
To the Editor:
When I heard about H72, the so-called ‘safe injection sites’ bill, there were so many questions that it was almost overwhelming. What’s wrong with this picture? What’s missing?
I remembered my sister who battled addiction for over 50 years before her death. I remembered the years my husband and I spent following my step-son’s addiction which became a downward spiral to homelessness, street living, jail, and serious injury. The time, heartbreak, nights on the phone trying to connect him to some food from a distance, and waiting for that final phone call from the authorities… But our experiences were not unique. For families dealing with an addicted loved one, they are all too familiar.
So, what’s missing in this bill is a resolution, a promise for redirection! Instead, this bill is an expensive revolving door. The “harm reduction” is, in reality, a repeating cycle eventually ending in death, because this band-aid offers no effective way to change the outcomes.
Today, my step-son is a working man with a relationship, an apartment, a driver’s license, a car, and a dog. He didn’t get to this point by cycling in and out of safe spaces. Because he served in the military, he was picked up by a court diversion program in Ohio called MAVS Court. After 3 homeless years of dangerous drug usage in 2 states, living day to day by salvaging from dumpsters, and watching friends die, he came to a life-or-death decision to change course.
The MAVS Court program is a strict and comprehensive, wrap-around approach. It provided a long-term residential path to a better, drug-free life. There was ongoing support every step of the way with no-nonsense counseling and a real chance to return to a responsible lifestyle. There was a wonderful graduation celebration when my stepson reached his goal, but that was not the end. MAVS graduates are able to maintain a connection with staff, so there is always someone to reach out to.
I talked with my step-son before writing this. He said that the worst part was being homeless. “It sucks to have no place to sleep, no place to shower, no clean clothes, no food”. You don’t know that you’re cold with meth; you don’t know that you’re hungry.” He also said that safe spaces with information, but no place to send someone if they want help, only to put them back on the street will not work”. He should know.
Vermont has no good, long-term programs to get people on their feet. Short stays DO NOT work. My sister was in and out of every short-term facility in Vermont. My point is that money (2 MILLION) for these “safe spaces” could be so much better invested in recovery rather than slow suicide. There are good models out there, like the one mentioned above, that could be investigated and developed here. Programs like this one have a REAL harm reduction trajectory with a possibility of REAL crime reduction.
Today, our young man is over 862 days clean. Every day is a challenge and every day that he meets that challenge is a Good Day. We know this is a life-long struggle for him, and he is in our prayers every day. The phone call we used to dread is now a nightly text to his dad with a “Good Night, Pop”. How many families will not get to hear that.
Is there always success? No, there isn’t. But, if all we can offer these people is a revolving door, there will be no success. – Carol Gross, Jericho
Texas under invasion Where does Vermont stand? Texas is being invaded and governors of 25 states have joined to assist the Constitutional right of Texas to defend itself from invasion. Where does Vermont stand? Are we a proud independent state within this country?
The Federal Government is siding with non-citizens outside our country against the state of Texas and its citizens. This is a States’ rights issue in confrontation with the Federal government that could spark a Civil War. Again I ask where do you stand? Where does our State stand?
Our Governor, Governor Scott must feel like a eunuch. Now after years of kowtowing to the veto-proof supermajority opposition in the Vermont legislature he finally has the opportunity to straighten his spine and stand up and do something that the legislature cannot veto. Stand with Texas.
After four years of peace we have now been through a national government that has started wars all over the globe. As the globe sits on the precipice of a Third World War our national government is attacking the foundation of our Republic with the threat of a civil war.
The Republican Party in this state needs to make a statement if it is ever going to be considered viable. Otherwise it will sit in obscurity as the Communists take our country.
No State shall, without the Consent of Congress … engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.” — Article I, Section 10, Clause 3 of the U.S. Constitution
The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence. — Article 4 Section 4 U.S. Constitution
The Federal government has failed to protect our border states and our citizens from invasion. The State has the right to protect itself and its citizens from invasion.
I stand with Texas.
-Gerald Mittica, Springfield
