Drug Abuse, Kennametal Discussed At Legislative Breakfast

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Created on Monday, 31 March 2014 18:30
Written by Tyler Dumont

NEKLegislativeBreakfastST. JOHNSBURY - Political leaders from around the Kingdom discussed the decrease of jobs, and the increase of drug addiction, at a breakfast this morning. Legislators met at the St. Johnsbury House on Main Street.

The recently announced pending closure of the Kennametal plant in Lyndonville was a big topic that sparked lots of discussion, bringing light to an already tough job market in Caledonia county.

Legislators told News 7 that multiple attempts by state representatives and Lt. Gov. Phil Scott to keep the plant open were unsuccesful.

"Those are eighty jobs that we wanted to make sure stayed here in Vermont, and it's unfortunate that we have not been able to bridge that gap with us and the leadership with Kennemetal to try to sit down and ask 'What is making you leave the area?'," said State Representative Bob South.

 The Kennametal plant is scheduled to close in June.

Meanwhile, placement for non-violent drug abusers was also a leading topic.

Ideas centered around the further development of the Rapid Intervention Plan created in Chittenden County, which strives to give users medical treatments rather than jail time.

The state-provided therapies would distribute methadone or saboxin to aid abusers in breaking their addiction.

Leaders say they hope the plan will open up space at what they say are already overcrowded jails in the state.

"Research shows that about a third, and this is nation-wide, of people in jail actually they are not criminal in their thinking," said Democratic Senator Jane Kitchel.

"They call in criminagetic thinking ... their behavior is a result of their addiction or mental illness and so what we are trying to do is within the criminal justice system - use a more refined approach in terms of how we respond to these individuals," she said.

The Rapid Intervention Program has been working in conjunction with the State's Attorney and Burlington Police Dept. to seek out individuals that would benefit from the program.

For more information on the program, click here.

Follow Tyler Dumont on Twitter @VCCJ_Tyler