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Vice President Visits Billings, Addresses Meth Epidemic

Kayla Desroches
/
Yellowstone Public Radio
Vice President Mike Pence addressed local leaders and law enforcement at Riverstone Health Clinic in Billings

Vice President Mike Pence was in Billings today to hear from local leaders and those fighting addiction about the real-world effects of methamphetamine in Montana.

Vice President Mike Pence flew into Billings at the invitation of Republican U.S. Senator Steve Daines, to discuss Montana’s methamphetamine problem.

They first went to Riverstone Health Clinic to meet with the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and the Yellowstone Substance Abuse Connect Coalition, which was formed to combat the meth epidemic.

State, city, and tribal leaders talked about the growing presence of methamphetamine in Montana, its role in increasing the rate of violent crime, and its presence on the state’s reservations.

Speaking to law enforcement and community leaders, Pence emphasized that the majority of methamphetamine comes from Mexico and echoed a sentiment that Daines said earlier.

“Here in Montana, it’s important to understand that you are a northern border state with a southern border problem,” Pence said.

Following the meeting at Riverstone Health Clinic, Pence andDaines headed to a treatment home for mothers who have struggled with addiction and then to a political event for Daines, who is running for re-election in 2020.

Thursday, Pence and his wife Karen fly to Yellowstone National Park, where they’ll meet with Interior Secretary David Bernhardt.

Kayla writes about energy policy, the oil and gas industry and new electricity developments.