[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 15777-15778]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                DRINKING AND DRIVING AND DRUG TREATMENT

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                          HON. BERNARD SANDERS

                               of vermont

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 13, 1999

  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Speaker, I submit for the Record statements by high 
school students from my home State of Vermont, who were speaking at my 
recent town meeting on issues facing young people today. I am asking 
that you please insert these statements in the Congressional Record as 
I believe that the views of these young persons will benefit my 
colleagues.

                          Drinking and Driving

          (On Behalf of Chelsea Downing and Rebekah Blaisdell)

       Chelsea Downing: Drunk driving has become a major problem 
     in the small towns of northern Vermont. Just a year ago, four 
     teens were killed in a car accident on their way back from 
     Canada. Alcohol was proved to be a factor in this crash. 
     Since the drinking age above the border is 18, teenagers 
     drive to Montreal to enjoy bar-hopping with their friends. 
     The driving coming home from the bars can be hazardous.
       How can these problems be prevented? The question has 
     lingered in the minds of many, since the number of Vermont 
     traffic deaths involving drunk drivers under 21 have 
     increased. Stopping underaged drinking altogether is an 
     extremely difficult task. If we can reduce the driving while 
     young people are under the influence, serious deaths and 
     injuries can be prevented. We need to focus on the driving 
     aspect, because it yields much more serious consequences than 
     just drinking alone.
       The teen curfew is one action the state legislature has 
     discussed. The curfew will prevent drivers under 18 from 
     being on the roads after 11 p.m. This would restrict 
     inexperienced drivers from being on the road when the risk 
     period is high. But it also restricts young people from doing 
     normal things, such as going to movies or the drive-in, or 
     simply getting together with their friends. People above 18 
     can still drive. These are the people who can drink legally 
     in Montreal. This curfew will not affect these teens, who 
     face a long drive home from the bars in Canada. We have proof 
     that this trip can be fatal.
       The state of Vermont has recognized that we have a problem. 
     Increased numbers of police officers, strict DWI laws, and 
     teen curfews are a few of the things they are in charge of. 
     These measures can help solve the problem, but what really 
     will make the difference is what these teenagers are exposed 
     to in their everyday lives. Their school, friends, and 
     especially their parents are all responsible for the 
     decisions they will have to make.
       Teens need to recognize the consequences of drunk driving--
     that death can result. Real stories of the families who have 
     lost children to accidents best express these outcomes. 
     Schools should be obligated to hold assemblies for students, 
     telling them real stories about what could happen. These 
     presentations are necessary, especially for events such as 
     homecoming and the prom, where underage drinking and driving 
     is apt to occur.
       Parents need to be involved in their children's lives, 
     especially during the high-risk years. Increasing awareness 
     is the best way to teach teenagers to consider the risks 
     before involving themselves in dangerous situations.
       Rebekah Blaisdell: As everyone knows, life and death goes 
     hand and hand, but nobody ever tells us how to deal with it. 
     Family

[[Page 15778]]

     members die, our leaders die; but our classmates aren't 
     supposed to. Lately my life that had more death than anyone 
     would like to deal with. In the past month, two of my 
     classmates have died unexpectedly. Scott was a very good 
     friend of mine, and I have known Gary since first grade. I 
     will remember them forever, and they have a special place in 
     my heart.
       In each of these cases, we will never know why they died, 
     if it was an accident or if it was of their own choice. This 
     decision is left up to those of us who are still here. We 
     will never know for sure, but every day I wonder if there was 
     something I could have done. I don't understand why Scott and 
     Gary had to die at such a young age, but my life will go on. 
     I have to come to terms with this senseless loss. But lately, 
     it seems the school has forgotten what happened just a month 
     ago. three days of extra counselors because of Scott's death. 
     Is that what his life was worth? Three days?
       I will never forget what happened during my senior year, 
     but soon this school will. In four years, nobody will know 
     Scott or Gary's name, and if they do, they won't understand 
     what happened to them or those around then. It bothers me, 
     because people should remember. Events like this should never 
     be forgotten, because if they are history will repeat itself 
     and more people will die.
       Even if Scott and Gary's deaths were accidents, schools 
     should teach about depression, and provide a way for students 
     to get help for themselves. I know each school has guidance 
     counselors. But who wants to talk to somebody who might not 
     even know your name?
       All my life, I've had to deal with depression. And most 
     people don't truly understand. I'm only 17. But already I 
     have had at least seven of my best friends attempt suicide, 
     and a couple have succeeded. People need to know where and 
     how to find help, and if they're finding help for a friend, 
     they need to know that their friend is not going to hate 
     them, and if they do, they're still alive, and that's the 
     point.
       If people don't know or don't want to admit that they may 
     be depressed, there is a bigger chance that they will take 
     matters into their own hands. Depression is not a dirty or a 
     bad word, and people who are depressed aren't any different 
     from anyone else, they just need a little more support.
       When it comes down to life and death, I've always opted for 
     life. Life may be tough, but death is so final. Once the 
     trigger is pulled or the plunge is taken, there is no turning 
     back. No matter how hard life is, it will always get better.

                             Drug Treatment

            (On behalf of Lucas Gockley and Aaron Gerhardt)

       Lucas Gockley: We are here today to talk to you about the 
     methadone maintenance treatment for heroin addicts. Heroin a 
     highly addictive drug derived from morphine. Some of the 
     long-term diseases stemming from heroin use are weight loss, 
     heart disease, AIDS, and death, eventually.
       In Vermont, heroin use is increasing dramatically. In 1994, 
     118 people in a state-run treatment center said they used 
     heroin. In 1996, 154 people said they were addicts. There has 
     been a 50-percent increase in heroin use in the Rutland area 
     alone. In 1997 in the Rutland area, there have been two drug 
     store robberies and one bank robbery by heroin addicts 
     looking for money to fund their habit. There have also been 
     eight deaths due to heroin overdose in just Rutland County in 
     1996 and 1997.
       State police figures show that crime due to heroin 
     addiction has almost tripled in this state in a period 
     between 1996 and 1997. Here at the university, there is a 
     federally-funded detox center run by UVM's Dr. Warren Diggle, 
     and the figures show that 60 percent of the heroin addicts he 
     sees are repeat visitors.
       Heroin use is on the rise in Vermont, and help for addicts 
     is virtually nonexistent. The only effective treatment is the 
     methadone maintenance treatment.
       Aaron Gerhardt: Vermont has no real treatment facilities 
     which addicts who have a desire to get off of heroin can use.
       One question to ask about methadone maintenance treatment 
     is, Does it work? In the European Archives of Psychiatry and 
     Clinical Neurosciences, researchers found that ``MMT''--or 
     methadone maintenance treatment--``centers have a real 
     efficiency, not only to reduce illicit opiate abuse between 
     50 and 80 percent, but also to reduce criminality, HIV risk, 
     and mortality, and also to improve social rehabilitation 
     without introducing other alternative substance abuse.'' 
     Another study published in the American Journal of Drug and 
     Alcohol Abuse found that heroin addicts who go through 
     methadone treatment are less likely to use cocaine, 
     amphetamines, tranquilizers and marijuana. It is clear that 
     MMT does work.
       The reason that MMI facilities need to be government-funded 
     is because, currently, Medicare and Medicaid do not cover 
     methadone maintenance treatments, and, frankly, the treatment 
     is too expensive for the average addict to pay for. So it is 
     much easier for them to stay home, using the welfare, and 
     continue using heroin, which just contributes to the cultural 
     stereotype of the freeloading drug addict. Government funding 
     can help ease the burden for the addict, and it shows a 
     concern on the part of the government to help the individual. 
     Instead of condemning them as criminals, it just makes them 
     seem more that they have a problem, instead of being bad 
     people.
       Also, within these facilities, the need for confidentiality 
     is imperative. Addicts have to have a place where they can go 
     to and not feel threatened by the threat of prosecution, 
     persecution, and shame. The MMT centers need to have flexible 
     hours so that addicts who are trying to stay productive 
     members of society can go to them. A nine-to-five day for a 
     center being open is not that feasible for an addict who is 
     trying to hold a day job. Simply put, the best time for the 
     clinical centers to be open would be 24 hours a day, which, 
     granted, would be a little bit inconvenient for people, but 
     for the addict, it helps.
       It is also very important that these centers have 
     counseling facilities available, and counselors available. 
     The chances of success in methadone maintenance treatment 
     greatly increases with psychotherapy. According to a 1995 
     study published in The Journal of Psychiatry, addicts who 
     underwent psychotherapy were much more likely to complete the 
     treatment and become well-rounded, productive members of 
     society once more, and stay off the heroin.
       So, over all, the benefits to Vermont are clear: MMT helps 
     to lower crime, HIV risk, and death. Also, through MMI, 
     addicts are more likely to stay off drugs for the rest of 
     their lives and become productive members of society.
       Congressman Sanders: Thanks. It sounds like you did some 
     good research.

     

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