Police Dept. Starts Charging Overdose Survivors With Inciting Panic

[Colonels_Wear_Blue]

Police: Overdose survivors to be charged with misdemeanor

 

WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, Ohio —

A southwest Ohio community is trying to fight the heroin epidemic by bringing a misdemeanor charge against drug users who are revived by emergency responders using an overdose antidote.

 

Chief Brian Hottinger says Washington Court House police in February began citing people with inducing panic if responders revive them with naloxone. The misdemeanor charge is punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

 

City Attorney Mark Pitsick tells WSYX-TV the strategy is aimed not at jailing more people, but at giving authorities a way to track who has overdosed and offer them help.

 

At least seven people have been issued summonses for inducing panic so far.

 

People who call 911 for an overdose or people who are with the drug user won't be charged.

[Colonels_Wear_Blue]

Is this a Band-Aid on a bullet wound? Or is it a matter of "it's better than nothing"?

[TheDeuce]

If death doesn't scare these people away from using drugs, jail time certainly won't.

[lawildcat]

And here I thought administering the overdose antidote was the band-aid for the problem.

[plantmanky]

Do they not get charged with a drug crime?

[Colonels_Wear_Blue]

Do they not get charged with a drug crime?

 

Generally, no. As I understand it, authorities can't prove what was in the person's bloodstream unless they agree to a toxicology screening. @Beechwoodfan might be able to speak a little more knowledgeably, but I believe most of the OD patients tend to come to and then walk out of the hospital shortly thereafter AMA without much of anything being done.

[plantmanky]

Generally, no. As I understand it, authorities can't prove what was in the person's bloodstream unless they agree to a toxicology screening. @Beechwoodfan might be able to speak a little more knowledgeably, but I believe most of the OD patients tend to come to and then walk out of the hospital shortly thereafter AMA without much of anything being done.

 

Well there is your first problem right there.

[JDEaston]

It appears that Lawrence County, Ohio which is part of the Huntington/Ashland/Ironton area will be doing something similar. Lawrence County, which isn't a large county in terms of population has seen 66 overdoses in the first 65 days of 2017 per the article below.

 

Heroin addicts who need naloxone face citations

[TheDeuce]

Get rid of narcan and the like and maybe people will stop OD'ing.

[JDEaston]

Well there is your first problem right there.

 

This has been talked about in my area within the media and attorney circles for a while now. There are two main issues that always seem to come up. One being the attorneys seem to believe it would be hard to prosecute and end up just tying up court time and causing more expenses. The other being that if it is successfully prosecuted, there will likely be less people willing to call when there is an overdose. Which would likely lead to an increase in actual deaths from the overdoses.

 

While overdose calls have spiked throughout the entire region over the past 5 or so years, the prevalence and easy availability of narcan has actually lowered the number of deaths in most areas. So it's kind of a catch 22 in that sense.

[JDEaston]

Get rid of narcan and the like and maybe people will stop OD'ing.

 

Doubtful. You'll just have more that die from their overdose.

[TheDeuce]

Doubtful. You'll just have more that die from their overdose.

 

Well...

[Wireman]

This is a stupid policy.

[JDEaston]

Well...

 

It's a catch 22 for sure. If you don't help them, they die and probably have some upset doctors and paramedics because it's their job to keep people alive. Same with attorneys, no matter what side they are on (prosecution or defense) it is their job to either help the state or the accused, regardless of whether it's right or wrong. This is 'merica man hah.

 

Reminds me of a quote from the HBO series "The Wire." This guy named SnottBoogie ended up dead and while investigating they were talking to people that knew him, that he played dice with. Dude that knew of him told the homicide detective (McNulty) that SnottBoogie would always rob the dice game at the end of the night to get his losses back. So McNulty asked if Mr. SnottBoogie robbed the game to get his losses back, why did you all let him keep playing? Dude said, "It's America man, you got to." Classic..

[halfback20]

Get rid of narcan and the like and maybe people will stop OD'ing.

 

I doubt it