Atrium Heroin Usage Meeting

Read where Mr. Adkins and others had another community heroin usage meeting at the hospital this morning. Looked to be maybe 30 participants by the Journal picture presented.

Looks like taking care of addicts is draining the emergency response resources with no solution in sight, but then again, this group is only looking at it from a "guardian angel" angle trying to play the "Heroin Savior" role. Why? Why should society care about human beings who don't care about themselves playing Russian Roulette with the next heroin hit? Is the city obligated to be there every time they do ignorant things in their lives? To borrow a phrase from comedian Ron White...."you can't fix stupid". Do we have the right to determine what is best for them or should we keep our nose out of how they wish to live their lives? Should we be playing the "parent role" by dictating what is best for them bailing them out time after time? I think not. It is up to them to fix their addiction. THEY are the only ones who can determine whether they want treatment or not. They have to be responsible for something in their lives. Never a better time than now. By the way, are the addicts paying for each Narcan treatment like they should be or is the taxpayer getting stiffed for yet another incident of funding those who cause society's problems? How about the ambulance ride? Is their insurance (if they have any) paying for the ambulance service and the EMT's time? If not, why not? Non drug related medical emergencies must pay for this either out of pocket or through insurance. The taxpayer is not responsible for these charges. The user is.

Would like to request the next meeting be held in the evening so that we day shift working people have an opportunity to express our opinions on the subject. Some may have some comments to make that may not be popular with the majority of the people in the room, but, for fairness sake, all comments need to be entertained, be they in the realm of popular thinking or not. Perhaps some of us do not want city money used to support this lifestyle.

How about an evening session Mr. Adkins. Say around 6 or 7 PM perhaps?

Fentanyl and Heroin • Fentanyl is a synthetic and short-acting opioid analgesic that is 50-100 times more potent than morphine. • Often mixed with heroin and sold as a highly potent form often called “China White”. • Many drug users do not realize that fentanyl has been added to heroin and use the same amount that they normally do, resulting in overdose. • Since heroin is mixed with fentanyl in “batches” and then sold to many users, this causes a sudden, sharp increase in number of overdoses that overwhelms first responders and Emergency Departments.

“Unseen” Costs 

Does anyone know What happens to a person that overdoses in the city.
What is the fine?
If taken to the hospital are they arrested after treatment? And if so how much time do they get 1 day 90 days?
You see I ask these questions because there has been an Ordinance passed to penalize a property owner in this city but not a person that overdoses. From what I have seen they get free medical attention a free ride to the hospital and maybe a free night stay at the hospital and after this is all over a ticket and a summons to court with a smack on the hand. Really Hey Doug Adkins got an idea for you pass an Ordinance that fines the addicts all of the expenses though the courts as as criminal offense though the courts when they show up for the overdose charge. Two things can only happen.
1. They don't show up then next time they od you can arrest them for failure to appear and them give theme the maximum amount of time and fines send them to county problem solved.
2. They do show up to court fine them for every dime they owe set them up on a monthly payment. When they don't pay then two things can happen .
A.The person will leave this city because they will be scared of being picked up for the warrant issued for failure to pay there fines.
B. Next time the person overdoses when they leave the hospital it will be in cuffs to jail not back to our neighborhoods because the warrant for failure to pay there fines will be the waiting on them at the door.
Just saying looks like everybody's billing the government here in some where or another and not removing the problem which is the cause of the bills remove the available demand "addicts" and the dealers will leave.