Pubdate: Mon, 14 Oct 2002 Source: Portland Press Herald (ME) Copyright: 2002 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc. Contact: http://www.portland.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/744 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?131 (Heroin Maintenance) Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1739/a02.html STATE IS RIGHT TO PROSECUTE FRIEND FOR OVERDOSE DEATH A Cumberland County Grand Jury did the right thing last week when it indicted Scott Darling for manslaughter in the death of his friend. Darling was a narcotics addict in a methadone maintenance program, and shared a take-home dose of his medication with Seth Jordan, who later died of acute methadone poisoning. If the charges are true, by providing a lethal dose of drugs, Darling caused Jordan's death, just as sure as if he had been a drunken driver or a reckless shooter. The authorities have taken the correct position in not just blaming Jordan for the mistake that caused his death. "I hope this sends out a message that you can be held responsible for someone's death in this type of situation," said Cumberland County District Attorney Stephanie Anderson. "I hope people begin to realize that by providing drugs, they can't wash their hands of it if that person dies." While it is right to hold Darling responsible for Jordan's death, the case raises more questions about the wisdom of allowing narcotics addicts in recovery to take home doses of the powerful drug. A disproportionate number of the overdose deaths in greater Portland this year have come from methadone, and the people who die are rarely those whose name is on the bottle. The risks may not be apparent: Seth Jordan died from drinking a dose that would have only held off withdrawal symptoms for Darling. Since methadone is only available at a small number of clinics, patients around the state find it inconvenient to show up at one every day. So far the solution - providing take-home doses - is clearly not working. Allowing daily methadone to be distributed at doctors offices, health clinics and hospitals would be a less risky and equally effective route toward addressing the same problem. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D