States and Families Begin Push for Drug Overdose Notification

[News]

Law in some states offers limited immunity on drug possession charges if calling 911.

Patty DiRenzo puts her hand to her face to give a kiss to her son, Salvatore Marchese's grave, Monday, July 16, 2012, in Blackwood, NJ. DiRenzo's son died of a drug overdose on Sept. 23, 2010 and she is now a part of a nationwide push to make sure people won’t be afraid of being arrested on drug possession charges to call 911 when someone has overdosed. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

View the full article

[DwayneEMTP]

Hmmm....

This seems like it could be a hornets nest of legalities.

[WolfmanHarris]

Not if simple possession is treated, as it should be, as a public health issue rather than a criminal one. Incarceration does not stem demand, nor does the threat of incarceration deter an addict. What purpose does it serve then?

Certainly there may be an opportunity rehab in a correctional facility, but often the sentences are so short as to make them ineffective. Or if like Canada short sentences are served in jail rather than prison there may be almost no programs available.

I'm not arguing for full decriminalization, but diversion jail.

Consider it selfishly if you'd like. While methadone programs may only have an approx 30% success rate for long term sobriety, (can't cite might be inaccurate though I know it's low) but an addict receiving methadone isn't robbing you for drug money. An addict receiving clean needles at a safe injection site aren't dying in the streets and aren't costing the system as much with the various diseases picked up due to dirty needles.