Maybe this is off-base, but if we legalized drugs (which I'm 100% for) and allowed the government to regulate the production, wouldn't we greatly reduce the number of overdoses?

It's not just junkies that walk out without paying because they can't afford it. It would be great if everyone could either afford it or had insurance that covered it, but that's a different topic. I'm ok with billing them, and collections processes or other alternative methods. I'm not ok with letting them die based on financial situation. I pray I don't need a million dollars of medical care one day....because I know I can't afford that. And if the rule was I had to pay for it or not get it, that would suck.

 

But they are breaking the current law, are they not? That should be a key factor IMO.

Maybe this is off-base, but if we legalized drugs (which I'm 100% for) and allowed the government to regulate the production, wouldn't we greatly reduce the number of overdoses?

 

You would think so, butttttt I am guessing the legalized drugs would not be as good or potent as the current stuff. Therefore, people would continue to create their own batch.

I feel you. Just pointing out how post 54 is still going to stir up emotions.

 

No doubt.

 

If it's bankrupting a city, what options do they have? Just keep falling further and further behind in debt? At some point those debts come due and then what?

Are we saying that if a person is culpable in their health issue (ie heroin OD) that taxpayers should not be on the hook? Is that true for fat people who have heart attacks? Smokers who get cancer? Drunks who crash their cars?

 

And if they're at the hospital and can't pay (as someone suggested earlier as something to consider) what do we do? Put them in jail?

 

I realize we all are spread on on the religion spectrum but for those of you who claim to be Christians I'd ask you to think about the teachings of your bible and see if you're aligned properly.

 

Of course, I also think you don't punish the child of a welfare recipient but I know that's not a universal belief on BGP.

 

That's a great point regarding forgiveness and giving people every opportunity to come to the Lord.

 

I'm not really sure that there is a teaching regarding the state's responsibility to aid people who abuse substances.

 

FWIW though, I'm all for saving a person who is about to die.

No doubt.

 

If it's bankrupting a city, what options do they have? Just keep falling further and further behind in debt? At some point those debts come due and then what?

You figure something out. Once we start standing by and watching people die we've lost our humanity...

No doubt.

 

If it's bankrupting a city, what options do they have? Just keep falling further and further behind in debt? At some point those debts come due and then what?

 

Well it is Williamstown, right? Don't they have that ark that is supposed to bring in money to the community?

 

I'm not sure what the answer is but I'll always choose saving a human life and going bankrupt over having money in the bank and letting people die. What happens if there is a mix up and they let a first time OD victim die? It can happen. I was pulled over once and the officer spent 15 minutes asking me about my warrant in Richmond only to find out the warrant was for Jason Henderson and not Jason Alexander. Of course he didn't believe me but it was still his mistake. They make that mistake with someone's life and they'll still be bankrupt because they'll get sued.

Well it is Williamstown, right? Don't they have that ark that is supposed to bring in money to the community?

 

I'm not sure what the answer is but I'll always choose saving a human life and going bankrupt over having money in the bank and letting people die. What happens if there is a mix up and they let a first time OD victim die? It can happen. I was pulled over once and the officer spent 15 minutes asking me about my warrant in Richmond only to find out the warrant was for Jason Henderson and not Jason Alexander. Of course he didn't believe me but it was still his mistake. They make that mistake with someone's life and they'll still be bankrupt because they'll get sued.

 

I believe it's Middletown, OH.

 

Talked to a friend who works at a hospital about it. They said there's no chance an EMT is going to withhold treating someone regardless of what "policy" is...

I believe it's Middletown, OH.

 

Talked to a friend who works at a hospital about it. They said there's no chance an EMT is going to withhold treating someone regardless of what "policy" is...

 

Williamstown, Middletown, they all run together after a while.

 

I couldn't do it. I wouldn't be able to live with myself knowing I didn't do everything I could to save someone.

No doubt.

 

If it's bankrupting a city, what options do they have? Just keep falling further and further behind in debt? At some point those debts come due and then what?

 

It's a slippery slope when you start devaluing people's lives and putting money ahead of humanity. What's the next group we look to save a buck on after the junkies are gone?? Whoever it is, I'm sure it gets easier after you've made that type of decision once.

It's a slippery slope when you start devaluing people's lives and putting money ahead of humanity. What's the next group we look to save a buck on after the junkies are gone?? Whoever it is, I'm sure it gets easier after you've made that type of decision once.

 

We're (as a society and country) long past the bolded IMO...

I genuinely thought it would be nearly universal agreement that we need to find better ways to handle this than just letting taxpayers foot the bill.

 

Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought so many people approve of that.

 

Learn something new every day.

I genuinely thought it would be nearly universal agreement that we need to find better ways to handle this than just letting taxpayers foot the bill.

 

Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought so many people approve of that.

 

Learn something new every day.

 

I don't think anyone disagrees with finding better ways to get a handle on it. I just think most folks don't want to just let them die.

I genuinely thought it would be nearly universal agreement that we need to find better ways to handle this than just letting taxpayers foot the bill.

 

Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought so many people approve of that.

 

Learn something new every day.

 

I'm all for ideas on how to fix it and get it paid for. Letting people die or not treating them in the meantime doesn't seem like a good option for a what's supposed to be a civilized society. Nor is punishing people for not having the means for treatment, regardless of the situation.

I'm all for ideas on how to fix it. Letting people die or not treating them in the meantime doesn't seem like a good option for a what's supposed to be a civilized society.

 

That's fair.

 

We already do a lot of things a civilized society wouldn't do all the time.