San Francisco considers ‘shooting gallery’ for drug addicts

[RTK]

S.F. considers ‘shooting gallery’ for drug addicts

SAN FRANCISCO - City health officials took steps Thursday toward opening the nation’s first legal safe-injection room, where addicts could shoot up heroin, cocaine and other drugs under the supervision of nurses.

Hoping to reduce San Francisco’s high rate of fatal drug overdoses, the public health department co-sponsored a symposium on the only such facility in North America, a 4-year-old Vancouver site where an estimated 700 users a day self-administer narcotics under the supervision of nurses.

When I first clicked on this link I was excited to think we could shoot drug addicts legally. After further review, this isn't where I want my tax dollar going. I'd expect nothing less from San Francisco.

[Kyobanim]

Yeah, I laughed when I saw it also.

[Sten]

Hoping to reduce San Francisco’s high rate of fatal drug overdoses

That seems to be a self correcting problem why try fix it?

[JAGeorgia]

Hoping to reduce San Francisco’s high rate of fatal drug overdoses

Originally Posted by Sten

That seems to be a self correcting problem why try fix it?

Actually, there's more. The article states that ODs are "one of every seven emergency calls" (14%) and that "overdoses has declined from a high of about 160 in 1995 to 40 in 2004" (a 75% decrease). So Sten, you may be right.

There's another agenda in the San Francisco article.

Like many large U.S. cities, the city operates a clean-needle exchange program to reduce HIV and hepatitis C infections.

Over the years there has been considerable controversy about needle exchange programs; scientific, cultural, political, etc. Here's something you might want to read.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/en...ubmed_RVDocSum

IMHO, this may be either a "tempest in a teapot" or the fast track to the "slipery slope".

[82ndtrooper]

Political and legislative enabling.

Rather than finding way's to reduce over doses, why are they not finding way's to reduce usage ? Would these shooting galleries become safe havens from law enforcement drug task forces ? Wouldn't arresting users prior to entry into the gallery sniff out at the very least a conviction of drug possession ? Or would that be infringing ones rights under the constitution ? Oh wait, it's naturally going to be exempt from illegal drug laws. How nice.

Let's see here. We've got a drug problem, we've got an HIV and AIDS problem, it's because of a shortage of sterile needles, so we'll spend tax payer dollars to allow addicts a safe haven to shoot up their drugs. Never mind that it invites more drug solicitation, importation, production, and transportation, but it also invites the street corner solictation which includes prostitution, and even more crime. Drug cartels, being vertically integrated, only need a one stop drop in San Francisco. Great Idea !!

Vancouver has one, so it's gotta be great for public health right ? "800 over doses in a year, but most were non fatal due to nursing supervision" Well, that clears it all up for me. It's ok to shoot my drugs, exempt from illegal drug laws, and I'm going to get nursing supervision. It's ok, I can over dose and the city is going to pay for me nursing supersvision, the EMT's that come to get me, and the stay in the emergency room and subsequent treatment for admition to the hospital. Sounds great, where do we all sign up because I'm not paying enough taxes as it is and I don't want to be left out. (Sarcasm off)

[jatx]

Originally Posted by RTK

When I first clicked on this link I was excited to think we could shoot drug addicts legally. After further review, this isn't where I want my tax dollar going. I'd expect nothing less from San Francisco.

But since this is SF we're talking about, you'd have to use a musket!

[Smokin Joe]

I'd arrest every single worker in there for conspiring to commit a drug offense.

[dmgedgoods]

This is a disgrace. I despise the people who promote such an idea, and I cannot understand why on Gods green earth we should pay for such a program. This part of the nation is falling apart (some may argue it fell apart long ago), and it truly saddens me to see such a beautiful city sink to such a low. This does nothing but promote hard drug abuse, and facilitates druggies to overdose in a "safe haven" where they can be brought back to do it again and again. Absolutely appalling by all standards.

Shawn

[Gypsy]

Drugs are illegal...what part of that do they not understand? Ohhh wait... Fabulous use of tax dollars.

[18C4V]

Originally Posted by jatx

But since this is SF we're talking about, you'd have to use a musket!

lol,
It's a good thing I'm not around.

[dmgedgoods]

#

[Guy]

Originally Posted by Gypsy

Drugs are illegal...what part of that do they not understand? Ohhh wait... Fabulous use of tax dollars.

I agree!

You can legally use a drug, that's illegal, as long as you use the illegal drug in a place where it is allowed legally?

[rubberneck]

Just wait a couple of years. Sooner or later the bright lights of SF politics will put two and two together and realize most addicts steal to fund their habit. Five years from now I wouldn't be surprised if the City beings to use tax dollars to provide heroin to reduce the number of robberies.

[jatx]

LOL, this reminds me of the effort to gentrify the Tenderloin. A friend's father has been leading the charge for years. The most common objection is that it would destroy local flavor and history. WTF, over? It is a festering, weeping pustule - the sociological equivalent of MRSA! Burn it and start over, then drive the addicts into the sea!

[Gypsy]

Originally Posted by Guy

I agree!

You can legally use a drug, that's illegal, as long as you use the illegal drug in a place where it is allowed legally?

Makes your head hurt, doesn't it?