‘We’re hoping this sends a message’: Alleged heroin dealer charged in woman’s overdose death in Swatara Twp.
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2014/05/harrisburg_man_charged_with_he.html
From article:
Jeff Sherrick said his daughter had been injured on the job and slowly built up a dependency on prescription painkillers and other drugs over the course of about two years. When her doctors stopped prescribing her the drugs, she sought them illegally and eventually turned to heroin as a cheaper option, he said.
Dauphin County District Attorney Edward Marsico Jr., who also spoke at Thursday’s news conference at Swatara Township police headquarters.
“Individuals who sell heroin are peddling death, and it’s only a matter of time before someone dies from one of these overdoses,” Marsico said. ” … Individuals who start out with a prescription drugs will often make the switch to heroin.“
Isn’t it amazing that <2% of the time.. becomes OFTEN.. when you have a certain agenda ?
Maybe if the doctor who had been prescribing the legal opiates had done a LITTLE MORE than just “stop prescribing”.. this young lady would still be around for her children … BUT.. with healthcare professional more concerned about the knee-jerk conclusion that those in the DEA come to.. BUT.. as Marsico said… “it is just a matter of time…”
If you think that taking this one dealer off the streets is going to make a change to the availability of Heroin on the street.. how delusional… why else would we be fighting this war on drugs for over 100 yrs.. and nothing has changed ?
Filed under: General Problems
Interesting, if you read the history of the Harrison Tax Act of 1914, (which eventually led to the ‘war on drugs’ or ‘drugs are bad’ perception” today) It was passed to mainly keep heroin, cocaine and marijuana out of the hands of minorities and immigrants. Somewhere along the line the Supreme Court ruled doctors could not prescribe to addicts to maintain their habit. Imagine if the ruling had been different. To let doctors to be allowed to wean their non chronic pain patients who became dependent during treatment instead of going cold turkey. Maybe there would be less ODs from them having to turn to illegal use or heroin. Hmmmmmm.
I reinterate: Heroin is a potent illegal drug with the potential for overdose or adultration. Whether or not the Pt. Is addicted for whatever reason they have alternatives to blackmarket lethal heroin. Often the Pt. Is desperate and cannot get inti a Tx program. It is a tragic conclusion that they have little recource to a drug that could be so potent, the user may die before they remove the needle. It is sometimes impossible for them to get into a program that is expensive, or have a waiting list too long to navigate.