We drug policy reform advocates need to talk abt how police use the very drugs we advocate for to save lives (e.g. naloxone, ketamine) to harm. Punitive naloxone use in ODs to induce withdrawal, ketamine weaponized to terrorize and maim: thecut.com/2020/06/elijah…
And while ketamine has very clear medical uses in appropriate doses and in safe settings, the case of #ElijahMcClain shows that officers weaponized it by calling upon old racialized drug tropes that once led officers to use bigger gauge guns and excessive force.
Thrilled to be here at the @MethadoneLib conference!
Great turnout in the room and I’m sure we have plenty folks logged in remotely representing so many diverse groups and regions!
We all share a commitment to #FreeMethadone!
We are listening to an infuriating clip from @National_usu ‘s podcast Naturally Noncompliant to hear from people about their experiences and why we need to #FreeMethadone.
- The US fentanyl-involved OD death rate is 21.6 per 100,000, a rate that more than TRIPLED in just 5 yrs
- Methamphetamine-involved OD death rate more than quadrupled,
- Cocaine rate more than doubled
Watching @CNN and @andersoncooper talking about the overdose crisis. They are talking about two tragic cases of young people who died of overdose with their grieving family members.
Both overdoses were with counterfeit pills. (1/?)
In first story, the young person thought it was a Percocet. When he was overdosing, a friend was deterred from calling 911 for fear of law enforcement.
In second story, the young man ODd while talking to his girlfriend on the phone but she didn’t know signs of him overdosing.
While they are talking about the need for more awareness of fentanyl adulteration, recognizing overdose, and naloxone access—tougher laws and prosecutions are also being proposed by family. They worry that felony charges for the dealer and 4 years in prison are not enough.