A report highlighted in the aftermath of actor Philip Seymour Hoffman's apparent heroin overdose notes that most states lack the recommended laws to curb overdose deaths.
Fewer than 20 states have laws that encourage people who have experienced a drug overdose to seek medical help or make medications that counteract the life-threatening effects of drug overdoses widely available, according a recent report from Trust for America’s Health.
Public health experts recommend states take a number of steps to curb overdose mortalities, which have doubled in 29 states since 1999, according to the Trust. Among those are maintaining so-called “Good Samaritan” and “rescue drug” laws. The recent death of actor Philip Seymour Hoffman of an apparent heroin overdose has further underscored the need for action on the state level, said Jeffrey Levi, executive director of the Trust.
"Philip Seymour Hoffman's death is a tragic reminder of the drug problem in America,” he said in a statement. “There are too many sad stories of tragedies that could have been averted. We need to start by getting past the outdated sense of stigma associated with addiction and focus our energies on effective prevention strategies."
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32 comments:
I think we should encourage overdose deaths. If you are stupid enough to not know that heroin is bad for you, you deserve to die from it. Let evolution run its course. I have no sympathy at all for a stupid man like that actor.
I also feel the same way 909AM. If they are that dumb to even start taking drugs, then they deserve the consequences.
Recently some young kid here in Salisbury died of a herion overdose and they kept it so quiet of how they died. People need to hear the facts especially the school kids what really can happen. Guess they think they are invincible.
I agree as well. Let the weak fall off. I don't feel sorry for them, only the poor souls that love them.
And btw, more than one kids has died recently, they all just hush hush about it all.
And thank you for your narrow views. Sadly you do not realize the cost in services needed to maintain the druggie until they finally die off (as you so callously put it). I agree the war on drug is a farce. Find another solution. Kids turn to drugs for a number of reasons. Help them find a way out.
I really hate how everyone is paying attention, now that "an actor" OD's. What about Benghazi? IRS scandal?
No, we're worried about crabs, justin beiber and a washed up actor.
For all the arrogant, uneducated people commenting so callously about those with documented medical diagnoses, Addiction...whether it be drug, alcohol, food, cigarettes, sex, etc... is a DISEASE. Unless you are perfect, please refrain from judging those when you do not know their path or why they ended up where they did and are. These people do not CHOOSE to be addicts and especially not to overdose and die. Please have some consideration for those these people have left behind that have a huge void in their lives from the death of their loved ones and friends.
10:06 I was looking at a bigger picture of drugs and not the actor. It is good to bring all social issues into conversation. This was not a Benghazi thread, it is a drug thread.
But if it makes you feel better please provide us with a list of approved topics.
10:06...First I have SEVERAL family members who suffer from the B.S. diagnosis of "addiction" including my daughter.
These people choose to shoot needles into their arms, these people CHOOSE to do things that will hurt, kill, etc. their self or others.
My mom is dead from a drug overdose. So don't tell someone else how they should feel and what they should have consideration for. I have suffered a very tragic life with loved one after loved one dying from drugs and alcohol. THESE PEOPLE DO CHOOSE THIS LIFE. Their little diagnosis is all B.S. It's called self control and being responsible.
I come from two addict parents. I am not a user of any drugs. Alcohol on occasion, but never in excess. You know why, because I'm not an idiot.
10:06:..These people do not CHOOSE to be addicts..?
Excuse me but no one forced them to put a needle in the arm. Speaking from family experience, my family member who is a recovering heroin addict (6 years clean) totally acknowledges and accepts that it was her decision and no one else to go down that road.
9:17 I guess you're talking about the kid that the police & the well-known local family want everyone to think died from a cough medicine overdose? If you try to hide what really happened his peers and any younger kids he may have been a role model to will never know the true danger.
The only relief a loved one of an addict gets is when they die. Very tragic and sad of course but this is the truth.
No matter how long (if they are lucky enough) they have been clean, their loved ones always will have resentment for the trauma and pain they put them through with their irresponsibility.
The only escape is completely cut them out of your life, which is more painful then them dying or their death. Only other addicts believe this is a "disease".
Unless you are PERFECT, you have no right to judge others
Actually, when our loved ones rob from us, commit crimes, have us searching the roads looking for them, calling ambluances because they are laying on the floor with a needle sticking out of their arm, I have EVERY RIGHT TO JUDGE. You have no right to KEEP ENABLING THESE PEOPLE by patting them on the back and telling them "it's ok, you have a disease" It's not ok.
I'm sure you are some counselor or sponsor and past P.O.S. like we are talking about. I promise, your mother still hates you a little bit for everything you put her through.
10:25 Unless you're a religious person, then you can judge everyone!
10:31
I can tell "you have been there"
You are absolutely correct regarding ENABLING!. We too spent the nights and days waiting for "that phone call"..... Thankfully in our situation our family member after numerous suicide attempts (via over dosing) she came to her senses and clawed her way out of her death spiral. We (mom and dad) acknowledged our participation in the "enabling game", told her she was not welcomed into our house until she made some decisions on her own. We also told her that as she being our daughter, we would always love her and pray for her. Now 6 years later (yes that was my post at 10:15) she is doing so very well. Yes, she could "go out" again. But that would be in her words "my decision and that would be so stupid".
10:06-YOU ARE THE PROBLEM! YOU CAUSE THESE DEATHS and you should be ashamed of yourself for making up excuses for those who make the CHOICE-YES they make the choice and no one forces them and don't you ever forget it-to start using drugs. Enablers and excuse makers like yourself are the sole reason drug abuse has escalated. START BEING HONEST and lay the blame where it belongs. Accepting blame is the first step toward any solution. It's called personal responsibility-NOW LEARN IT!
And another thing-we can judge whomever we want to and whenever we want to and don't you forget it. The problem with you people who hide behind the do not judge BS are you are cowards! Too afraid and weak to say what is right.
If people didn't judge social injustices would still exist like slavery. Now get real, get intelligent get informed and speak out.
Wicomico had 1 of the 37 MD deaths since Sep cause by fentanyl laced heroin.
Calling addiction a disease is common within the lower end treatment facilities. The upper end (those that do not except Medicaid and cost upwards of $40,000 for a 30 day stay) focus on personal responsibility. The disease thing is a way for those facilities to justify their dismal failure rates.
11:45. maybe only one death. How many arrests and O.D's.
Wait a minute- Heroin is completely a different case than, say alcohol or pot. I can see a how person gradually becomes an alcoholic, or maybe not realizing that he or she has a genetic predisposition to drinking or whatever or maybe not even realizing how bad too much drink is for them...but heroin? Who doesn't know that heroin is bad for you? I cannot feel sorry for a person who knowingly and willingly does that drug.
1:07-Don't know the answer to your questions, but there may have been even more deaths related to heroin. The 37/1 figures are attributed to fentanyl laced heroin only, that's been making it's rounds throughout the state.
like most 15 yr olds know that drinking, pot, coke, herion is bad for them. they think, oh i will just try it once whats the big deal. i see how most of you that grew up long ago forgot how naive and invincible teenagers are. keep on judging, that will solve everything.
Actually judging people does solve a lot because experience is the best teacher. When people are shunned and ostracized and others look down on them it gives them incentive to change or not do things perceived as morally wrong to begin with. This do not judge PC crap has ruined this country. When people looked down their noses at bad behavior things were much more civil.
If we turn on them instead of helping them they will either self destruct or get over it.
So you go ahead and don't judge and keep helping and see where that gets you. It will get you literally sick from stress. It will leave you crazier than they are.
" keep on judging, that will solve everything."
Umm. actually, it will. I drank some as a teen and smoked pot some as a teen and that was stupid to do, but I wasn't stupid enough to do anything like heroin. Partially because I knew how evil that junk is and partially because i "judged" people on heroin and meth and coke to be total losers. You cannot convince me that some innocent person doesn't realize how bad heroin is until its too late, unlike some other drugs.
Besides, Philip Seymour Hoffman wasn't a wild eyed 15 year old. He was old enough to know better.
1:47 i wasn't talking about the actor.
Exactly 1:46. Any responsible parent would and will teach their children to judge.
Lots of responsible parents have been unsuccessful in educating and preventing their children to stay away from drugs.
when you have young impressionable minds watching the likes of cyrus and beiber, it is hard to impress upon young children that this is not the way to live. i bet half of the commenters on here do not even have children. but thanks for your criticism, advice and labeling all of those who may have failed for what ever reason. i am sure the guilt wasnt enough on their minds they needed the likes of you to tell them what miserable parents they are. quite pathetic.
There is a drug that counter acts a heroin overdose, it is for injection. The problem now being that what the junkies are getting is heroin laced with Fentanyl, and will those injections work as intended or make the situation even worse. Fentanyl is a drug that surgeons use for sedation during operations, not the exact same as Michael Jackson was using, but same effects, heavy duty.
I read that the fentanyl doesn't show up in the typical toxscreen either, they have to request a special screen to pick it up.
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