Overdose deaths and what the government is doing about it...

[Bhoris (OP)]

This past Sunday, in a specific county in PA, there were apparently 12 overdose deaths related to heroin use. I'm assuming the dope was probably laced with fentanyl but I haven't done enough research quite yet to say that for sure. However, when there are that many ODs in a single county in a single day, it's safe to say that adulterated heroin is likely the cause. Here is the article: http://m.wpxi.com/news/news/local/crews-respond-least-12-overdoses-washington-county/nnLNc/

With that in mind, I started doing a bit of research and came upon this article: https://www.yahoo.com/politics/white-house-launches-plan-to-counter-explosion-in-126925908536.html

Apparently the government is finally taking steps to cut the head off the snake, so to speak, supply-wise (although $2.5M in new funding to combat drug trafficking in the NE U.S. isn't shit in the grand scheme of things) and treat end users via the public health system instead of the justice system which I think is great. It's not like they're ever going to make a significant dent in the supply of heroin to the U.S. but the fact that they're finally starting to treat addiction as the disease it is rather than a legal issue is great news.

[dizzle]

disclaimer:

not 12 deaths, there were 3 deaths, and 12 overdoses...

[Bhoris (OP)]

disclaimer:

not 12 deaths, there were 3 deaths, and 12 overdoses...

You're absolutely correct, as usual. I'd modify my post but it's too late now. I went ahead and typed "deaths" after "overdose" unintentionally. Still, though, that's a shitload of ODs and drug-related deaths for a single county in a single day.

[nick]

I wonder how much naloxone $2.5 million would buy?

[A-bomb]

This happened right down the road from me.  I did hear of some fire going around but I can almost bet money on it that they were laced with fentanyl.  We seem to get bags like that every couple of months.  Years ago I would be out there trying to track down this dope but not anymore with me being on the methadone. I hope every one will be more cautious with this batch.

[Griffin]

I think if federally they would impose the good samaritan law, needle exchanges, and narcan availability and training  for cops, and ems it would make a bigger dent then throwing money at the situation. Hopefully they make good on their word to start treating addicts as a health issue instead of a legal issue because that would make a huge impact. It is extremely hard to get a job, housing, and a lot of other things if you have a record and it seems like today everyone has been arrested. They really do need to start funding treatment instead of buying brand new cars for the police every year. Luckily my MMT clinic just started doing narcan classes where they teach you how to use it and give you your own prescription. The needle exchange in Denver also does it once or twice a month as well.



Griffin

[Bhoris (OP)]

Here's another, more in-depth article about that same night in Washington County. Apparently one girl, a 26 year old mother of a 2 year old, was found unconscious in a Walgreens bathroom with her 2 year old strapped into a stroller beside her in the same stall. Fuuuuck.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/the-heroin-epidemics-toll-one-county-70-minutes-eight-overdoses/2015/08/23/f616215e-48bc-11e5-846d-02792f854297_story.html?wprss=rss_homepage

[Junkette]

Chris Christe just blamed Obama for the heroin epidemic, LOLZ.

Isn't New Jersey the most outrageously opiated state in the union? Talk about out of fucking touch.

https://boingboing.net/2015/08/24/chris-christie-blames-20-year.html

we need

1. to end stigmatization of drugs and users. if people weren't afraid of what would happen if they told someone, they wouldn't be as likely to use "in the closet".

2. make family members living with a known user, get Naloxone training. the way I see it, if a drug dealer can go to jail for selling it to you and you die, shouldn't family members who know they are living with an addict be responsible for the death as well...since you know...it was preventable?

3. give up the ghost on abstinence based rehabs...so it works for about 1 in 10 people, those aren't very good odds. if a treatment for cancer had a 1 in 10 chance of curing you, it wouldn't be much of a cure would it? If it's really a disease start treating it like one, no one would tell you to pray your heart condition away, and if they did they would be outed as a fool.

4. there should be safe injection sites and other safe places. ideally these facilities would be able to test the heroin for contaminants and impurities.

and this is just a start. i could write a whole Manifesto on what we, as a group of people, need. 

[kat1lifeleft]

Preach sista...