tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post2882608828771908097..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: How Texas police can better prevent overdose deathsGritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-52553107773433515342015-01-09T08:46:55.178-06:002015-01-09T08:46:55.178-06:00I appreciate the concerns noted by Marc, and these...I appreciate the concerns noted by Marc, and these would need to be resolved to satisfaction of parties involved.<br /><br />I also appreciate the other public health measures you mentioned. The climate may not be ripe for those prevention measures at this time. I don't know. But I do know that overdose response is in fact a prevention measure. Preventing death in finality is prevention. All of these measures are preventative. Prevention is a continuum, in my opinion. I am sure others might disagree. <br /><br />Saving one life is a big dang deal. If one person gets into recovery and returns to a productive contributing life in the community, this can be a priceless benefit. And, since no one of us can predict a person's future trajectory (I have been wrong many times, in trying to do just that), we can't pick and choose who to save in this world.<br /><br />I appreciate the article and comments very much, and am glad there is healthy educated discussion around the topic. <br /><br /> Sandy Olsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-89534673316230480002014-12-14T09:13:39.551-06:002014-12-14T09:13:39.551-06:00Scott,
I must disagree - this is 1) not a overdo...Scott, <br /><br />I must disagree - this is 1) not a overdose prevention program, and 2) ignores the issues involved in misdiagnosing an opioid overdose. A much better option - call EMS to deal with potential opioid overdoses. <br /><br />First, a response to overdoses is not a prevention program. Prevention would include education programs, needle exchange programs, many of which are unlikely in the current political environment. The current prescription tracking program DPS runs is also a preventative response.<br /><br />Second, my 21 years of experience as a paramedic indicates there are downsides to the use of naloxone, including incorrect diagnosis of opioid OD's and the reaction of the patient to naloxone (vomiting, potentially aggressive or violent behavior) with the potential for negative interactions with the police. <br /><br />EMS is trained to deal with these issues already. Rather than spending money to equip 20,000 NYPD officers with naloxone (which has a shelf life and the vast majority would be unused , likely > 19,900 naloxone kits), why not spend it to improve emergency response from EMS with FDNY? The same would be true in any large city.<br /><br />There may be some places where this is reasonable - rural areas with long EMS response times, for example. But in most places, I'm of the opinion this would be a misuse and waste of grant money that could be used in a more effective way.Marchttp://www.marcmeyeyrlawfirm.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-65467688931174100592014-12-13T14:23:09.961-06:002014-12-13T14:23:09.961-06:00I think it is a very important for officers to be ...I think it is a very important for officers to be able to save a life, give them the tools to do it plain and simpleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com