Pubdate: Sat, 06 Jun 2015
Source: Gloucester Daily Times (MA)
Copyright: 2015 Eagle Tribune Publishing Company
Contact: http://www.gloucestertimes.com/contactus/local_story_015132144.html
Website: http://www.gloucestertimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/169
Author: Joe D'Amore

MORE THAN 'ANGELS' NEEDED TO COMBAT OPIATE ABUSE

To the editor:

Angels are descending on the city of Gloucester through an innovative 
program proposed by police Chief Leonard Campanello to help people 
battling opiate addiction.

These angels don't have wings but they have some training, knowledge 
and an abundance of compassion to be at-the-ready when an addicted 
person surrenders their drugs and paraphernalia at the local police 
department, and is promptly whisked away to be processed for detox 
treatment rather than being booked for a crime.

The Gloucester police program's cornerstone are the volunteers who 
could be called at any hour of the day or night to meet an addict at 
the police station and shadow and guide them through the processing 
for treatment.

This program will dovetail well with a hastily convened but promising 
network of support facilities and organizations, such as the Healthy 
Gloucester Collaborative, Action Inc., local pharmacies who will 
provide ready access to the anti-overdose drug Narcan and Lahey 
Health, Addison Gilbert Hospital and other health-care and rehab 
programs that will deliver a dedicated cadre of "angels."

Undoubtedly lives will be saved, but despite its popular appeal, the 
results may be disappointing unless several things evolve from this 
highly localized and legally experimental initiative. The state 
Legislature needs to grapple with and successfully overcome many 
legal challenges related to this program by carefully implementing 
thoughtful legislation. First and foremost, there must be safeguards 
to prevent the program from being a mechanism for dedicated criminals 
to escape the criminal justice system by feigning a desire to become 
"drug-free" only to later return to a life of crime.

Another concern is to build assurances that addicts are given a real 
chance at rehabilitation. For example, there is already the potential 
for legal wrangling since Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett 
recently sounded this warning by announcing that "an explicit promise 
not to charge a person who unlawfully possesses drugs may amount to a 
charging promise that you lack legal authority to make, and on which 
a drug offender may not be able to rely." These issues need to be 
dealt with swiftly by state officials and then the program allowed to 
be rolled out throughout the state, especially in our largest cities 
replete with drug activity such as Lynn, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, 
Worcester, Fall River, New Bedford and Springfield.

Finally, if all the angels in heaven were to join those in Gloucester 
and form a dedicated army of healers, the hoped-for eradication of 
the scourge of drug addiction will never materialize until the source 
of drugs -- the drug dealers -- are removed from our streets.

The success of this program, especially if expanded and amply 
supported by a comprehensive drug policy and a set of laws, depends 
on a concurrent condition of eliminating easy and cheap access to 
opiates. If the spigot of drugs flowing is not dramatically curtailed 
by law enforcement, many of those who are saved by this program will 
simply fall into the preying hands of those who seek the destruction 
of others for profit.

Everyone will feel good that many were saved but few will take notice 
that many will repeatedly cycle through the program multiple times 
creating static progress in defeating the epidemic of drugs.

Joe D'Amore

Groveland
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom