Pence to travel to Montana to discuss meth crisis

Vice President Pence will travel to Montana next week to discuss the state’s methamphetamine crisis.

“Montana has a crisis on its hands. Mexican meth is pouring into our state and tearing our families and communities apart,” Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), who will travel with Pence, said in a statement. “I’ve been fighting hard to tackle this growing issue all over our state and I’m very grateful to welcome Vice President Mike Pence to Billings next week to continue this fight.”

{mosads}“Together with the Trump Administration and folks all over Montana, we must win this fight for our great state.”

Pence will join Daines Wednesday at the RiverStone Health Clinic for a briefing from the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force (HIDAT) and the Yellowstone Substance Abuse Coalition.

Daines is currently crafting legislation to address the rise in drug-addicted births in Montana and fight for increased funding for federal programs that address the crisis.

The Montana Department of Justice found last year a 375 percent increase in methamphetamine found in postmortem cases from 2011 to 2017 and a 415 percent increase in methamphetamine found in controlled substance cases over that same period. 

“The State Crime Lab’s annual report confirms what we already knew:  Montana is in the midst of a substance abuse crisis,” Attorney General Tim Fox said at the time. “The report reflects astronomical increases in methamphetamine and heroin offenses.”

“Clearly, our communities can’t wait a minute longer for efficient and effective policies to be found.”