NYC's Heroin How-To Handbook Not A Hit

[merig00.livejournal.com]

It's dope for dummies.

A New York City-funded guidebook for heroin users is offering information on how to prepare drugs carefully and how to care for veins to avoid infection.

But the state's top official with the Drug Enforcement Administration called it a "step-by-step instruction on how to inject a poison."

DEA Special Agent-In-Charge John Gilbride says the handout is "very disturbing."

The 16-page pamphlet features helpful tips for dopeheads like: "Warm your body (jump up and down) to show your veins," and "find your vein before you try to inject."

Other tips include: "Only 'boot' once or twice in one shot."

The city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene printed about 70,000 copies of the handout, which reportedly cost $32,000.

A health official says the goal is to promote health and save lives.

Assistant Commissioner Daliah Heller says instructions on how to perform injections were included because there is "a less harmful way to inject."

The illustrated guidebook also offers information on HIV testing and warnings on the dangers of sharing needles.

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local-beat/NYCs-Heroin-How-To-Handbook-Not-A-Hit-80570847.html

Comments

[mprice.livejournal.com]

Look. Look.
See Albany.
See Albany write a book.
See Albany waste tax payers' money.

Look. Look.
See New York tax payers.
See New York tax payers flee state in droves.

* ~ * ~ * ~ *

See my tax dollars at work.
See me move out of New York State.

EDIT: While this says it is New York City funded, those of us who have been saddled with New York State taxes can tell you that the majority of it is funneled into NYC.

[merig00.livejournal.com]

Yeah I know... I've lived in NYC for a while, moved out to New Jersey and it's just slightly better.

[mprice.livejournal.com]

I moved to Texas in October. (No state income tax.) I'm actually in Austin, which everyone told me was Uber-liberal. HA! Maybe when compared to the rest of Texas, but compared to New York it's liberal-lite!

[merig00.livejournal.com]

smart move

[lafinjack.livejournal.com]

Would you rather have them spend a little money on advertising this, or a lot of money on preventable medical costs from people ODing?

[mprice.livejournal.com]

I'd rather they spend the money on stopping the drugs flowing into the city in the first place!

[lafinjack.livejournal.com]

That will never, ever happen. That's like saying "I'd rather spend money on stopping the sun from shining than use sunscreen". Even if you magically got rid of every "drug", there is still a market for inebriation: people will start abusing prescription meds, making their own meth, huffing stuff from the hardware store, taking a bunch of OTC pills from the grocery store, etc. All you can do is educate prevention.

[mprice.livejournal.com]

All you can do is educate prevention.
Educate prevention? Like not starting drugs in the first place? Or does that make too much sense?

This program is going to be just as effective as the methadone program. A colossal failure.

[lafinjack.livejournal.com]

Like not starting drugs in the first place?

Yes, but also like getting people who are users to not get themselves killed or sick. Every time someone without insurance ODs, that's a bill that's paid by everyone else seeking healthcare. Then there are things like clean needle programs, which don't just prevent the users from getting AIDS (for instance), they also prevent the spread of disease from the user community into the non-using community.

If they can spend $32k, or $50k, or $100k, on handouts on how to shoot up properly, and prevent even ten ODs who would otherwise have to go to the ER, or prevent ten disease transmissions, they've saved money.

[mprice.livejournal.com]

If they can spend $32k, or $50k, or $100k, on handouts on how to shoot up properly, and prevent even ten ODs who would otherwise have to go to the ER, or prevent ten disease transmissions, they've saved money.

Your argument is why New York State is nearly bankrupt. Every government program intended to "save" money costs more in the long run. Those pesky unintended circumstances.

Also, if it was such a great idea, why does the website no longer work after only one day? Public outcry, perhaps?

[onceuponapillow.livejournal.com]

Good lord!

Good to know they're putting those tax dollars to good use. For an encore will they be handing out this handy little book at the local high schools and colleges?

[blondebaroness.livejournal.com]

The stupid - it hurts!

[zerorevenge.livejournal.com]

My friends told me this, this morning... I thought he was pulling my leg...

**headdesk**

[kimana83.livejournal.com]

It's the same argument they use with teen sex: "They are going to do it anyway, so we might as well teach them to do it safely." Except, often, if you hold your kid to a higher standard, they may very well choose NOT to have sex, at least for a while. I would assume the same goes for drugs.

[kataoi.livejournal.com]

Hey, it worked on me. :\

Wow, just, wow. This makes me twitch violently

[kimana83.livejournal.com]

What makes you twitch violently? The "how to use drugs" (or "how to use condoms") instead of "don't do drugs" (or "don't have sex as a teen"), or that I think people - even hormonal teenagers - can control themselves?

[kataoi.livejournal.com]

What I meant was my parents holding me to a higher standard worked on me and I have kept my hormones in check.

And the twitching violently part is in reference to the article. No harm intended to you. :)

[kimana83.livejournal.com]

Gotcha. Good. I was hoping that's what it was, or else I was about to unleash my "I was a virgin when I got married (and I'm normal - i.e., not Duggar-esque) and I know a lot of other normal people who are virgins too" rant. ;o)

[agentbristow86.livejournal.com]

This exact thought was going through my head when I read this. This is no different than condoms in schools or handing out fisting kits. *shudders*

[athousandsmiles]

Fisting kits? For serious? *boggles*

[merig00.livejournal.com]

giggle at THIS (http://biggovernment.com/2009/12/08/fistgate-ii-high-school-students-given-fisting-kits-at-kevin-jennings-2001-glsen-conference/)

[athousandsmiles]

Wow, that is just... reprehensible. My children will never step foot inside a public school.

And just for clarification, I said *boggles,* not *giggles,* in my previous comment. There's nothing giggle worthy about this.

Thanks for the link.

[merig00.livejournal.com]

ooh sorry... I'm reading and responding to comments through email and misread you.

[athousandsmiles]

No harm done. :-D

[agentbristow86.livejournal.com]

My children will never step foot inside a public school.

I feel this way-- more and more, everyday. :( I've probably made this comment several times throughout the comm, but it's like one more reason on top of another, on top of another, on top of another... :(

[athousandsmiles]

And I just saw this comment...

Yes, there are so many reasons not to put your children in public indoctrination centers schools. Mine go to an amazing private school. If ever I can't afford it anymore, I'll be homeschooling them.

Is that Cameron in your icon? She is made of win!

[agentbristow86.livejournal.com]

Yup, that is exactly the story I was referring to. For some reason I didn't get the alerts of replies so thanks for stepping in there. :)

[longlostblue.livejournal.com]

I hate the whole "they're going to do it anyway" argument. Like you said, instead of holding teens to a higher standard, parents assume they are are unable to control themselves and can only make decisions based on hormones. I certainly managed to control myself all through high school.

[mockingbird39.livejournal.com]

I saw this on my local news this morning and for a minute was afraid it was a project of Massachusetts. It seemed logical, considering that a few years ago they funded a guide for local college students on trolling gay bars for sex.

I am marginally relieved to see the idiocy come from somewhere else for once.

[lazypadawan.livejournal.com]

Progressives think we're obligated to support the debauchery of others. We can't be judgmental about drug use!