Get Active Subscribe Support Us

DRUG WAR PART OF THE PROBLEM

Regarding your May 5 editorial commending the Pitt County Sheriff'=C2=80=C2 =99s Office for being the first law enforcement agency in North Carolina to equip its officers with the overdose prevention drug Narcan: Nasal administration of the Narcan reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. 

This harm-reduction approach to a growing prescription drug abuse problem will save lives.

The drug war is part of the problem.  Illegal drug users are reluctant to seek medical attention in the event of an overdose for fear of being charged with a crime.  Attempting to save the life of a friend could result in a murder charge.  Overzealous drug war enforcement results in easily preventable deaths.

As of last year, North Carolina has a Good Samaritan law that provides limited immunity to drug users seeking medical attention in response to an overdose event.  This is a good thing that more people need to know about.  With the introduction of Narcan, Pitt County is now way ahead of the curve in terms of life-saving harm reduction interventions.

Rehabilitation also is confounded by the drug war.  Turnout at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings would be much lower if alcoholism were a crime pursued with zero tolerance zeal.  Eliminating the penalties associated with illicit drug use would encourage the type of honest discussion necessary to facilitate rehabilitation and save lives.

ROBERT SHARPE

policy analyst Common Sense for Drug Policy Washington, D.C.