Interview with Shane Young, November 26, 2018

Partial Transcript: Okay, so, um, I'm just going adjust my mic here.

Segment Synopsis: Shane Young talks about growing up in Paducah, Kentucky, serving in the U.S. Navy, going to law school at the University of Louisville, working in narcotics prosecution in Louisville, and in 2013 becoming the Commonwealth Attorney for Hardin County. He talks about how during his time working in narcotics prosecution in the early 2000s, heroin was coming into Kentucky via Philadelphia, but it was sporadic and then sputtered out. Around 2003-2004, Young says that methamphetamine in Kentucky became huge.

Keywords: Hardin County (Ky.); Louisville (Ky.); Methamphetamine; Narcotics prosecution; Paducah (Ky.); University of Louisville Law School

Subjects: Drug abuse.; Drug addiction; Drug traffic.; Heroin abuse; Opioid abuse; Opioid use; Substance abuse.

Partial Transcript: So you don't really see the rise in heroin as being connected to, um, uh, Purdue Pharma's marketing of Oxycontin--

Segment Synopsis: Young talks about how particularly in Kentucky, heroin filled the void left by the closing down of the pill mills in areas where opioids were already being over-prescribed. He also discusses how Hardin County didn't have a lot of pain clinics initially, and so the over-prescribing of opioids never took off like it did in other Kentucky counties.

Keywords: Doctors; Hardin County (Ky.); Heroin; Pain clinics; Pill mills; Prescribing

Subjects: Drug abuse.; Drug addiction; Drug traffic.; Drugs--Prescribing.; Heroin abuse; Medication abuse.; Opioid abuse; Opioid use; Substance abuse.

Partial Transcript: Now can you explain for people who may have never heard that term, what Rocket Docket is?

Segment Synopsis: Young explains that Rocket Docket is a program that speeds up the legal process and in-custody time for C or D felonies. He explains how petty crimes, like writing checks or breaking into stores, are often considered drug crimes. He talks about how Kentucky has lessened the penalty so much for drug possession that offenders often choose a shorter prison sentence over a 6-month treatment program option in drug court. He also discusses the problem of a lack of treatment options for people with substance abuse disorders that are charged with crimes.

Keywords: Drug possession; Drug treatment; Kentucky; Narcotics; Prison; Prosecuting felonies; Rocket Docket

Subjects: Drug abuse and crime.; Drug abuse--Law and legislation.; Drug abuse--Social aspects.; Drug abuse--Treatment.; Drug abuse.; Drug addiction; Drug addiction and recovery; Drug addiction--Treatment.; Drug traffic.; Heroin abuse; Opioid abuse; Opioid use; Substance abuse--Law and legislation; Substance abuse--Patients--Rehabilitation.; Substance abuse--Social aspects; Substance abuse--Social aspects.; Substance abuse--Treatment.; Substance abuse.

Partial Transcript: This is what happens when you get people who--legislators who try to pass criminal legislation and don't understand the criminal system.

Segment Synopsis: Young talks about House Bill 463, which passed in 2010 and made the maximum sentence for drug possession 3 years, which he says has led to a "complete bell curve." He talks about prosecutors' experience firsthand seeing the effects of addiction as a social issue, as a community and family issue, and how prosecutors' main job is to keep people safe.

Keywords: Addiction and society; Drug possession; House Bill 463; Kentucky Legislature; Narcotics prosecution

Subjects: Drug abuse and crime.; Drug abuse--Law and legislation.; Drug abuse--Social aspects.; Drug addiction; Heroin abuse; Opioid abuse; Substance abuse--Law and legislation; Substance abuse--Social aspects.

Partial Transcript: So you're literally--if I understand you correctly, you're seeing generational patterns?

Segment Synopsis: Young talks about how in his time as a prosecutor in Louisville, the majority of the people he dealt with were parents, but had had their kids taken away from them, and those children were being raised by their grandparents. He talks about how the loss of this grandparent generation has worsened the generational cycle of drug addiction. He also talks about the need for more drug treatment options in family court. Young discusses how the majority of people that hired him in private practice were grandparents. He also stresses that decriminalizing drugs like heroin and meth is not the answer.

Keywords: Addiction; Children; Drug decriminalization; Families; Grandparents

Subjects: Drug abuse--Law and legislation.; Drug abuse--Social aspects.; Drug addiction; Families.; Heroin abuse; Opioid abuse; Substance abuse--Law and legislation; Substance abuse--Social aspects.

Partial Transcript: Um, in terms of c--you know--so I don't know if you're familiar with that book "Dreamland."

Segment Synopsis: Young talks about how a lot of the violent, illegal behavior associated with highly addictive drugs like heroin, prescription opioids, and methamphetamine he just doesn't encounter with people using marijuana. He talks about how staunchly opposed many legislators are to the legalization of marijuana in Kentucky because they believe it is a gateway drug. He describes how as a prosecutor, his bottom line is different. He is thinking about the worst crimes that put the community at risk, and how he just doesn't see these types of crimes related to marijuana use.

Keywords: Cannabis; Crime; Felony; Heroin; Kentucky; Legalization; Marijuana; Narcotics prosecution

Subjects: Drug abuse--Law and legislation.; Drug abuse--Social aspects.; Drug addiction; Heroin abuse; Opioid abuse; Substance abuse--Law and legislation; Substance abuse--Social aspects.

Partial Transcript: Spice, now Spice is another thing.

Segment Synopsis: Young talks about the rise of a new synthetic drug called "Spice" and its dangerous side effects. He talks about how profitable this drug has become for dealers, and how most of the people he encounters involved with spice are young people, teenagers or people in their 20s. He also describes how the drug is made by spraying grass clippings with some kind of often-changing chemical.

Keywords: Kentucky; Spice; Synthetic drugs

Subjects: Drug abuse.; Drug addiction; Drug traffic.; Substance abuse

Partial Transcript: S--the other thing I wanted to ask you was, uh, this is a v--this is a very oversimplified question but I, I think people's answers are interesting...

Segment Synopsis: Young discusses why people use drugs, from his experience as a prosecutor. He talks about how some people have addictive personalities and are exposed to stresses, which they deal with by using drugs. He discusses how Kentucky Rocket Docket program should be expanded across the state, and how more treatment options need to be created, because he could move people through the program and get them out of sitting in prison faster if treatment was immediately available. He also talks about how mental health is a major issue.

Keywords: Drug court; Family court; Kentucky; Mental health; Narcotics prosecution; Prison; Rocket Docket programs

Subjects: Drug abuse--Law and legislation.; Drug abuse--Social aspects.; Drug abuse--Treatment.; Drug addiction; Drug addiction and recovery; Drug addiction--Treatment.; Heroin abuse; Opioid abuse; Rehabilitation centers.; Substance abuse treatment facilities; Substance abuse--Law and legislation; Substance abuse--Patients--Rehabilitation.; Substance abuse--Social aspects; Substance abuse--Social aspects.; Substance abuse--Treatment.

Partial Transcript: It's kind of, um, you know, you--there's this narrative that, that, uh, drug possession laws were way too strict...

Segment Synopsis: Young talks about how substance abusers want to get back out on the street as quickly as possible, and how as a prosecutor, his goal is to keep people off the street for a long as possible so that they get the opportunity to get into a treatment program and have a chance to turn their lives around.

Keywords: Drug treatment; Narcotics prosecution; Prison; Recovery

Subjects: Drug abuse--Law and legislation.; Drug abuse--Social aspects.; Drug abuse--Treatment.; Drug addiction; Drug addiction - Treatment; Drug addiction and recovery; Drug addiction--Treatment.; Heroin abuse; Opioid abuse; Rehabilitation centers.; Substance abuse treatment facilities; Substance abuse--Law and legislation; Substance abuse--Patients--Rehabilitation.; Substance abuse--Social aspects; Substance abuse--Social aspects.; Substance abuse--Treatment.