web1_image201663203337868.jpeg

Greater Nanticoke Area conducts ‘graduation walk’ as a new tradition

web1_richsgolfcenter2.jpg

Wyoming golf and entertainment complex repossessed in sheriff sale

<p>PRINGLE &#8212; Jim McMonagle had a simple message for the state House Majority Policy Committee.</p><p>Testifying at the committee&#8217;s hearing on drug addiction, McMonagle said there is only one way to deal with the problem &#8212; one addict at a time, one day at a time, one problem solved at a time.</p><p>McMonagle, who sits on Luzerne County&#8217;s Drug Treatment Court as an assistant district attorney, on Thursday said he didn&#8217;t always have a full understanding of that concept.</p><p>In 2007 when he was first assigned to the drug court, he came to the position with the traditional mindset of a prosecutor, believing that if someone &#8220;did the crime, they should do the time.&#8221;</p><p>After his training and experience with assisting addicts who had been charged with a crime, he said he came to fully understand that addiction is a disease and if you treat it and support those who are afflicted with it, you are likely to have much better outcomes.</p><p>He is now the president of the Pennsylvania Association of Drug Court Professionals.</p><p>The drug court, he said, also improves the bottom line.</p><p>&#8220;First, more fines, restitution and costs are usually received from people in these programs because of the intense supervision and graduation requirements,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Second, counties can reduce prison costs. Third, a graduate has a job, which positively impacts government finances.&#8221;</p><p>The program means government expenses go down and revenue goes up, he concluded.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a win-win for the community,&#8221; he said.</p><p>&#8220;We cannot arrest our way out of a drug problem,&#8221; Dallas Township Police Chief Robert Jolley said.</p><p>Jolley said he has personally witnessed the loss of life to a drug overdose and the effect on the family. He said addiction drives up to 80 percent of crime and needs to be vigorously addressed.</p><p>State Rep. Aaron Kaufer, R-Kingston, agreed.</p><p>Recently he spent time at a suboxone clinic and was impressed with the efforts of the workers and the resolve of the clients.</p><p>Kaufer said, although he wanted to do more research on the drug, he believed that it could be a valuable tool in addressing the opioid problem.</p><p>Kaufer, a member of the policy committee, said he recognizes the effects of addiction.</p><p>&#8220;We are losing the next generation,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Legislation, Kaufer said, is part of the solution.</p><p>He is co-chairing the Pennsylvania Heroin, Opioid Prevention and Education Caucus with state Rep. Ed Gainey, D-Pittsburgh.</p><p>Another part of the solution, Kaufer said, is the willingness to respond to the concerns of constituents affected by the disease.</p><p>Sharon Kempa, of Luzerne, presented testimony about her son, Kyle. Kyle she said has been using drugs, mostly opioids, since eighth grade.</p><p>Kempa said when she didn&#8217;t know where else to turn, she went to Kaufer&#8217;s office.</p><p>&#8220;They helped Kyle get into treatment,&#8221; she said. &#8220;They were great.&#8221;</p><p>Unfortunately, Kempa said she believes her son was again using drugs after several months of being clean.</p><p>Still, she hasn&#8217;t given up hope, believing that it often takes several attempts at rehabilitation before an addict experiences long-term success.</p><p>&#8220;If there is one message that I can leave you with, it is that Kyle is a person,&#8221; she said. &#8220;He is a son, a brother, a father.&#8221;</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_mcmonagle-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">McMonagle </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_mcmonagle-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>McMonagle </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>House committee told addiction needs to be treated as a disease</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Hearings on opioid addiction brings lawmakers, concerned citizens together