New York City prints "How to Shoot Smack" guide...

[BTM]

Yet another entry in the long list of "I couldn't make this s**t up" stories.  Apparently, the city of New York has published 17,000 of this 16 page booklet on how to do drugs in a more safe manner, with topics like, how to avoid ODing, what to do if someone else ODs, avoiding hepatitis, etc, etc.

Here's a sample graphic.



Soo.. dunno.. on the one hand, there's the argument that this will save lives and help prevent the spread of infectious disease.  There's also info in the pamphlet on resources for quitting drugs and other stuff.

On the other, is this REALLY what we need to be spending taxpayer money ($32,000)  on?  

Anyway, if you want to read the article, click here: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/heroin_for_dummies_oLIfe1Gxl7RMk9iJZiWlnL

Neatly enough, I followed the link to download a copy of the manual as a PDF file, but it had been taken down from the official nyc.gov page.

Surprisingly, there's a lot of interesting comments (pro and con) on the page featuring the article.

Example:

"If heroin was produced pharmaceutically it might make sense. But since street heroin is generally two to twelve percent heroin and 88-98 percent filler that often contains dog poop, road tar, dirt, insects, hair, quinine and other impurities, instructing addicts how to use clean syringes is akin to drinking sewage from a clean glass. These are the same health officials who expect Americans to trust them with flu shots and AZT."

"In most western countries, users are given a card with a phone number for free needles to be delivered to their house or a meeting spot. They give you free syringes, a plastic spoon, medical swabs, sterile water and instructions. They will also provide for $2, a kit to inject pills and detailed instructions on how to separate the key ingredients from the protective shell. Some countries even have safe injection clinics where a nurse will help you inject the drugs. Police are banned from arresting anyone in or near the clinics (unless dealing).

This is just standard stuff and every study shows that these programs don't increase the number of users. In fact they help reduce users because they get access to addicts offering treatment and help.

Just like the heroin assisted treatment (HAT) programs that prove giving addicts free heroin has a better success rate at getting them drug free than detox/rehab and other abstinence only programs."

[3mnkids]

While 32,000 may seem like a lot of money when compared to what it cost the state in hospital stays for drug overdoses and other complications of drug use its a drop in the bucket.

I dont see why anyone would have a problem with this. Is educating someone soooo bad?      

[indianasmith]

I resent the idea of tax dollars being used to educate people on how to break the law, period.  Yes, you can make arguments about health and safety, etc, but you're still spending money to teach people how to do an activity that you would lock them up for.

I mean, would you want the government to print a pamphlet on "How to Conduct Clean, Sanitary Identity Theft"?  Or "How to Be a Better Rapist"?

If an activity is illegal, then don't spend tax dollars teaching people how to do it.  Period.

[Leah]

is that why the doctors are always calm when telling the bad news? 

[Javakoala]

Damn it, I've been doing it wrong....

[Rev. Powell]

Damn it, I've been doing it wrong....

Don't turn this into a joke thread, or I may have to SMACK you...

[Javakoala]

Ah, screw you and the HORSE you rode in on.   

[SPazzo]

I resent the idea of tax dollars being used to educate people on how to break the law, period.  Yes, you can make arguments about health and safety, etc, but you're still spending money to teach people how to do an activity that you would lock them up for.

I mean, would you want the government to print a pamphlet on "How to Conduct Clean, Sanitary Identity Theft"?  Or "How to Be a Better Rapist"?

If an activity is illegal, then don't spend tax dollars teaching people how to do it.  Period.

But think about this.  If someone is addicted to heroine, they won't be able to quit very easily at all.  Many got addicted by accident and do want out.  At least the city cares enough to try and help them, instead of just letting them die from an OD or infection.  And plus, rapists and identity thieves are a lot different than heroine addicts.

Though I also think that they should spend money on trying to get more addicts into a rehab where they won't be arrested.  I have a friend who used to work with heroine addicts.  She said that the reason most of them don't go into rehab is for fear of being arrested because they bought illegal drugs.

Indianasmith, if you could have used that same taxpayer 32 grand for something else, what would it be?

[Jack]

Well, if anybody knows how to do drugs properly, it would probably be the city of New York.

[BTM]

But think about this.  If someone is addicted to heroine, they won't be able to quit very easily at all. 

Sure they can, just throw away all their comics! 

:P

Hehe... actually it's heroin.  Heroine is a female hero.  (Don't worry, I had to look that up, cause I wasn't sure.)

:)

[Rev. Powell]

Ah, screw you and the HORSE you rode in on.   

I was just NEEDLING you...

[Rev. Powell]

But think about this.  If someone is addicted to heroine, they won't be able to quit very easily at all. 

Sure they can, just throw away all their comics! 

:P

Hehe... actually it's heroin.  Heroine is a female hero.  (Don't worry, I had to look that up, cause I wasn't sure.)

:)

Actually the British do spell "heroin" as "heroine," which causes confusion. 

[Javakoala]

Ah, screw you and the HORSE you rode in on.   

I was just NEEDLING you...

Sorry, I didn't get that. I was NODDING off. (May be obscure but we'll go with it.)

[Jim H]

I resent the idea of tax dollars being used to educate people on how to break the law, period.  Yes, you can make arguments about health and safety, etc, but you're still spending money to teach people how to do an activity that you would lock them up for.

I mean, would you want the government to print a pamphlet on "How to Conduct Clean, Sanitary Identity Theft"?  Or "How to Be a Better Rapist"?

If an activity is illegal, then don't spend tax dollars teaching people how to do it.  Period.

Thinking about it...  I agree.  I also must admit I find it a little hard to believe that people who can't properly do heroin are going to bother reading educational pamphlets anyway.

I suspect the people behind these campaigns would rather heroin be decriminalized, but that's a distant proposition, so they do this sort of thing instead.

[Leah]

is this why most cops now are corrupt? i'm used to it, here in Lovely New Orleans