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

[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?