So far, it has been proposed that we:

 

- let the addicts die

- kill the dealers

I went to a funeral last week for a 27 year old who overdosed on heroin. It was his last of many relapses. If I had a child addicted, I would have a dose of Narcan in my possession.

 

I have said and thought the same things that many have said on this site. I also work with addicts on a daily basis. The devastation these addicts do to innocent people is terrible.

 

I am finding that letting them kill themselves/die off isn't working because there are more heroin addicts every day. I do not understand it, but I do understand

 

Our society needs more and better rehab services. We need insurance companies to help pay for it, and/or the government to help fund it. We need to learn and understand why this particular drug has such a hold on people. We need more prisons and jails that have good detox and rehab programs.

Everyone needs to read Dreamland. After reading that book, we can all have a much more EDUCATED discussion on opiates, especially heroin. I would say that we need to have a multi-disciplinary recovery system. It takes 2 years for the brain's receptors to "reset." Even then, triggers cause relapse. The multi-disciplinary system, like the one that the University of Washington has attempted to resurrect, helps an addict through recovery by recovering the person. Making them healthier all over, not just working on the actual addiction. Insurance companies STILL refuse to cover this. Additionally, pharmaceutical companies need to be reigned in. Finally, the addict needs to want to do this. Many are at the point where they may not want to die, they just don't care if they do as long as they can score. Seriously, read the book. It is very well done.

I went to a funeral last week for a 27 year old who overdosed on heroin. It was his last of many relapses. If I had a child addicted, I would have a dose of Narcan in my possession.

 

I have said and thought the same things that many have said on this site. I also work with addicts on a daily basis. The devastation these addicts do to innocent people is terrible.

 

I am finding that letting them kill themselves/die off isn't working because there are more heroin addicts every day. I do not understand it, but I do understand

 

Our society needs more and better rehab services. We need insurance companies to help pay for it, and/or the government to help fund it. We need to learn and understand why this particular drug has such a hold on people. We need more prisons and jails that have good detox and rehab programs.

 

I agree with you some points. But the part of needing "more and better rehab services" and "insurance companies need to help pay for it" and "gov needs to fund it" I cannot agree with. When you say that, you are saying that every tax payer and person who pays for their own insurance should pay for these people! I need to have surgery on my spine but I'm self employed and being off work for 6 months to a year I will have NO income. Should everyone in the country help me? Or others like me? AND I DID NOT CHOOSE FOR THIS TO HAPPEN TO ME. and before you say if it hit close to home I would feel differently, it already did. So I am not going to support any person who does this after help was given to them once. One time you get help, do it again it's on you.... How's that old saying go--- if it happens once, shame on you. If it happens again, Shame on me! I will not be a part of the second time.

Finally, the addict needs to want to do this.

This right here is the alpha and the omega.

Drug dealers. Any person selling heroin knows that there is a good chance of it killing the user. That is why some states can now charge the dealer with murder of someone od's and dies. I say kill all dealers who sell coke and heroin. I don't care about marijuana, to me it's no different than alcohol. There are plenty of hired guns that could take them all out for pennies compared to what we are spending. You keep killing them, eventually no one will want to deal in the U.S.! We can stop illegal shipments of consumables, art works, animals, auto parts and other things from coming in this country. But we can't stop the drugs from coming in? I don't buy it.

I thought the answer would be even larger than the drug dealers.

When I first read the title on this one, I thought "Why will this be controversial? Wouldn't everyone want to save the life of another?" Boy, was I wrong.

 

As a high school teacher, I have lost far too many former students who, in their early twenties, OD'ed on heroin. These are kids who were loved by their parents and siblings and were active in high school activities. Many of them were fun to have in class. When I picture their faces, I don't imagine for a second not wanting their lives to be saved. They were not expendable. They made terrible choices that had dire consequences. I'd challenge everyone on this board to examine their early twenties for choices that were made that could have had terrible effects for us and others.

 

Lastly, as @formerkywrestler said, I can't imagine Jesus saying, "Oh, they made their own bed. Let them die." Terrible.

Here's my question to you all not wanting to allow a medication to be available.

 

Why don't we just round them all the addicts up and shoot them? Wouldn't that save a lot of time?

 

That did solve opium addiction in Mao's China.

I agree with you some points. But the part of needing "more and better rehab services" and "insurance companies need to help pay for it" and "gov needs to fund it" I cannot agree with. When you say that, you are saying that every tax payer and person who pays for their own insurance should pay for these people! I need to have surgery on my spine but I'm self employed and being off work for 6 months to a year I will have NO income. Should everyone in the country help me? Or others like me? AND I DID NOT CHOOSE FOR THIS TO HAPPEN TO ME. and before you say if it hit close to home I would feel differently, it already did. So I am not going to support any person who does this after help was given to them once. One time you get help, do it again it's on you.... How's that old saying go--- if it happens once, shame on you. If it happens again, Shame on me! I will not be a part of the second time.

 

I hear ya, and I get your point. Truth is, we are already paying for in many indirect ways. We hospitalize people without insurance every day because it is illegal to refuse services to people based on inability to pay. How do hospitals make up for that? Government money, and increased costs to people who do have insurance. The costs (both financial and emotional) resulting from drug related thefts, accidents, and deaths is passed on to us as well in one form or another.

 

I have no problem with paying for it once, as you suggest. But I think it should be one, quality, comprehensive, rehab. Let's face it, many drug addicts do not have insurance, so I think they should be given that once chance.

 

As a tax payer, I would rather pay for that than pay for the funeral of a family member killed by some idiot high on the road. I would rather pay for it than have my house broken into by some addict looking for cash.

Everyone needs to read Dreamland. After reading that book, we can all have a much more EDUCATED discussion on opiates, especially heroin. I would say that we need to have a multi-disciplinary recovery system. It takes 2 years for the brain's receptors to "reset." Even then, triggers cause relapse. The multi-disciplinary system, like the one that the University of Washington has attempted to resurrect, helps an addict through recovery by recovering the person. Making them healthier all over, not just working on the actual addiction. Insurance companies STILL refuse to cover this. Additionally, pharmaceutical companies need to be reigned in. Finally, the addict needs to want to do this. Many are at the point where they may not want to die, they just don't care if they do as long as they can score. Seriously, read the book. It is very well done.

 

Great post. I will have to get the book. We get calls every day from parents who want to force their kids into rehab. We also have parents bringing them in. It is very disheartening to hear the addict say, "I am only here because my parents are going to kick me out if I don't come. They are in so deep they have ZERO desire to quit. I often ask them where they see themselves in 5 years. Some just say, "probably dead." With no emotion. It is hard for to wrap my head around that.

Everyone needs to read Dreamland. After reading that book, we can all have a much more EDUCATED discussion on opiates, especially heroin. I would say that we need to have a multi-disciplinary recovery system. It takes 2 years for the brain's receptors to "reset." Even then, triggers cause relapse. The multi-disciplinary system, like the one that the University of Washington has attempted to resurrect, helps an addict through recovery by recovering the person. Making them healthier all over, not just working on the actual addiction. Insurance companies STILL refuse to cover this. Additionally, pharmaceutical companies need to be reigned in. Finally, the addict needs to want to do this. Many are at the point where they may not want to die, they just don't care if they do as long as they can score. Seriously, read the book. It is very well done.

 

Of all the fine points you made, this is THE most important thing to remember. NO rehab is going to work unless the addict wants it to. Period.

I totally comprehend the difference. I even point it out it my response. The logic is what is escaping you. The speed with which it kills you makes no difference logically. In both you are taking a risk by doing something that can lead to your death.

 

When the people taking the risks are people you don't deem worthy of caring about then it's not worth it. However, when it's the average American...it becomes an issue.

 

Considering most people seem to have an issue with the cost to the taxpayer, I would think that makes those who die from smoking or obesity a bigger issue. Those people would tend to live longer than herion addicts making them a bigger (more costly) burden on taxpayers.

Considering most people seem to have an issue with the cost to the taxpayer, I would think that makes those who die from smoking or obesity a bigger issue. Those people would tend to live longer than herion addicts making them a bigger (more costly) burden on taxpayers.

 

I also don't believe tax payers should be footing the bill for people who ate their self into obesity. Some people have a weight problem and dont eat as much as average people, those people we can help. The ones who eat and eat waaay to much and just get bigger every day, they don't need my help or money. they choose to be this way so they can deal with it. People who smoke that wind up with cancer or drink and have liver problems, I don't feel sorry one bit nor should I have to foot the bill for what they chose to do.

Edited February 13, 201610 yr by #99
Misspelled word

I hear ya, and I get your point. Truth is, we are already paying for in many indirect ways. We hospitalize people without insurance every day because it is illegal to refuse services to people based on inability to pay. How do hospitals make up for that? Government money, and increased costs to people who do have insurance. The costs (both financial and emotional) resulting from drug related thefts, accidents, and deaths is passed on to us as well in one form or another.

 

I have no problem with paying for it once, as you suggest. But I think it should be one, quality, comprehensive, rehab. Let's face it, many drug addicts do not have insurance, so I think they should be given that once chance.

 

As a tax payer, I would rather pay for that than pay for the funeral of a family member killed by some idiot high on the road. I would rather pay for it than have my house broken into by some addict looking for cash.

 

Agree with this. My wife is nurse and before that did medical billing. I know we have been paying for it already, just don't want to pay anymore. Glad to see obama care is taking care of somebody. Lol

The title of the thread is a bit misleading.

 

Narcan is being sold upon request based on a protocol developed by pharmacies and approved by a doctor. You can not pick it up off the shelf. You won't visit a kiosk and purchase the product.

 

Pharmacists are able to dispense the product upon request without a prescription after providing the necessary educational information and documenting the sale. Each individual pharmacist has had to attend training and signed off on the protocol in order for the pharmacy to participate.

 

This is more of a political move than a business move. The announcement being made by Dewine and Portman should clue us in to this. As has been mentioned, this gives us the ability to maybe save a loved one. I am very interested to see the number of requests we get over the next few months.