Vermont Public is independent, community-supported media, serving Vermont with trusted, relevant and essential information. We share stories that bring people together, from every corner of our region. New to Vermont Public? Start here.

© 2024 Vermont Public | 365 Troy Ave. Colchester, VT 05446

Public Files:
WVTI · WOXM · WVBA · WVNK · WVTQ · WVTX
WVPR · WRVT · WOXR · WNCH · WVPA
WVPS · WVXR · WETK · WVTB · WVER
WVER-FM · WVLR-FM · WBTN-FM

For assistance accessing our public files, please contact hello@vermontpublic.org or call 802-655-9451.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

The Heroin Crisis And The Links To Sex Trafficking

Diego Cerva
/
iStock
Heroin continues to be a major problem in Vermont, and the drug trade is linked to sex trafficking in the state.

In 2014, Governor Shumlin devoted his State of the State speech to what he called "a full-blown heroin crisis" in Vermont. Nearly two years later, heroin is still a massive problem in the state. We're looking at the latest on the state's battle against heroin, and at the dangerous links between the drug trade and sex trafficking.

We're talking to Detective Lieutenant John Merrigan - commander of the Vermont State Police Narcotics Investigation Unit - about heroin in Vermont.  And to U.S. Attorney Eric Miller and assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Ross - co-chair of the Vermont Human Trafficking Taskforce - about the ties between the drug trade and sex trafficking.

The U.S. Attorney's Office has launched a new campaign against drug and sex trafficking. The website is www.ucanstoptraffick.org.

What do you see in your community? Does heroin still have a hold on our state? Comment below or write us at vermontedition@vpr.net.

Also on the program: an exhibition at the Bennington Museum showcases architect Tom Leytham's watercolors of buildings from Vermont's industrial past. We talk to the artist.

Broadcast live on Thu., Nov. 5, 2015 at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.

A graduate of NYU with a Master's Degree in journalism, Mitch has more than 20 years experience in radio news. He got his start as news director at NYU's college station, and moved on to a news director (and part-time DJ position) for commercial radio station WMVY on Martha's Vineyard. But public radio was where Mitch wanted to be and he eventually moved on to Boston where he worked for six years in a number of different capacities at member station WBUR...as a Senior Producer, Editor, and fill-in co-host of the nationally distributed Here and Now. Mitch has been a guest host of the national NPR sports program "Only A Game". He's also worked as an editor and producer for international news coverage with Monitor Radio in Boston.
Latest Stories