# 71

Heroin users get "low" in High Point, NC in three incidents involving motor vehicle accidents in one week.

Using the inaccurate descriptor "high" when describing the Central Nervous System response to CNS Depressants (Heroin), Media Critic and Journalist Ian Cheong, suggested that the town of High Point may want to consider changing its name (a CNS Depressant should always bring the term "low" to mind).  Cheong's article reports that two of the accidents had children as passengers and no major injuries to anyone.

http://heatst.com/life/heroin-overdoses-cause-three-car-crashes-in-one-nc-town-in-a-single-week/

# 70

News article from Atlantic City, NJ reports six deaths to suspected Heroin overdoses in most recent week.  First half contains news and second half contains marketing data for various rehab facilities/options.

Sadly, the referenced article features a photograph of the wrapper in which this particular "Heroin" was marketed.  Stamped in red ink, on the outside of the wrapper are the words: "King of Death," along with an image of a crown.

The article is followed by dueling comments in which persons who are sympathetic to Substance Use Disorder persons condemning those who show no sympathy.  The sympathizers also condemn the marketing aspect of the "news report" and lament the lack of treatment facilities in Atlantic County and claim that Cape May County has a much larger problem with persons having Substance Use Disorder and zero treatment facilities.


http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/atlantic-city-police-issue-warning-after-overdoses-in-hours/article_1ca49883-46e1-5e48-bf56-104753f69382.html

# 69

More from an excellent series on substance use and governmental response, heavy on the "throw-in-the-towel" approach and absolutely void of any consideration for eradication of coca and poppy.

"Substance abuse" long ago became a term which is not politically correct.  Nevertheless, it is used in articles like this to stage a case for "holistically" dealing with addicts - yes, another descriptive term which is no longer politically correct because yesterday's "addict" is today's "substance use disorder" patient.  Arguably he is in need of having society pay for an extended stay in rehab...or for having legislatures pass laws which force insurers to cover the extended stays.

Everyone agrees it is a problem - use of substances- but there is little consensus as to which groups receive resources and in what amounts.

Silent in this series is this blog's effort to address the needs of juveniles and adults who are in the status of "the day before addiction" or not yet physiologically dependent on substances which lead to "substance use disorder."

By looking past this group of persons, who may outnumber the sad group of dependent persons, society needs to ask whether it is failing to prevent new arrivals to the addiction (bad term) cycle, while diverting most of its resources to a cacophony of vying interests who each have their preferred approach; each featuring high rates of recidivism and death.

If the above paragraph is true, in what regard should we hold fresh candidates who are in their own, personal, "day before addiction?"

Have we thrown-in-the-towel regarding this vital slice of humanity and devoted almost zero resources devoted to the potentially fatal choices they may someday make and cast society's lot with juveniles and adults who no longer enjoy a status of "the day before addiction" who are making potentially fatal decisions with high frequency?

All life is valuable and the effort is currently loaded towards the end of the continuum having less promise.  Those persons who are not yet addicted, at the other end of the continuum, are like an incoming flood to a very large reservoir which has erected no containment gates designed to stem the inflow.  In this sense, the reservoir is like a poisonous pond for which society is trying to remove individuals who are addicted before they die (one at a time and quite demanding on resources) while little resources are at work in stemming the new arrivals to the poison pond.

In earlier posts, we have suggested that the current crisis may give testimony to efforts like the DARE program in North America.  Would DARE's proponents take a position that the current crisis would be far worse were it not for their efforts for 30+ years?

An invigorated approach is needed in which the true value of the lives of all persons not yet addicted (bad term) are prioritized in the continuum of society's effort to obtain and distribute resources in the area of substance abuse (bad term).

http://wtop.com/local/2017/01/hooked-on-crisis-fight-for-treatment-funding/slide/1/

# 68

Probationary Firefighter dies from Heroin overdose after flawed, negligent hiring (including his Deputy Chief mother's silence), inappropriately swept him into a job involving public safety and operation of a Fire Engine.

Takoma, Washington Fire Chief has facts revealed following hire; should have surfaced prior to employment.

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article125178739.html

# 67

Huffington Post produces excellent report on Fentanyl and similar opioids which have produced an epidemic of overdose deaths in North America.  However, the writer attributes characteristics produced by Central Nervous System Stimulants ("high" and "euphoria") that are not produced by opioids from the line of substances known as Central Nervous System Depressants.

Young readers and their parents, hopefully in the status known as "the day before addiction," should not be misled by any source which uses the wrong descriptive terms to describe pharmaceutical effects.  The CNS responds to CNS Depressants by slowing heart rate and respiration, creating pinpoint pupils and constipation along with opioid brain receptors which are highly demanding for repeat dosages.  Additionally, every dose has brain activity which leads the body to nod as a prelude to sleep.  If the dosage is sufficient, the brain directs to body to slide down to coma; followed by death as the brain instructs the body to terminate respiration. 

There is no "high."

There is a "low" and the "low" can lead to death.

If anyone can use the term euphoria, then it should not suggest any heightened awareness of the CNS; this descriptor could only be compared to a dream-state that the user is descending down to...with opioids, the slide or elevator shaft always heads south.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/fentanyl-overdose-deaths_us_575744dbe4b0a3d6fbd3168b

# 66

Recent series on CNS Depressants kicks-off, article uses term "get high" to describe user's expectation from Depressants which cause physiological "lows."

Series sadly illustrates lost lives and flawed thinking while illustrating how incarceration prolonged life and how release from jail resulted in quick death.


http://wtop.com/local/2017/01/hooked-on-heroin-designer-opioids-infiltrate-drug-trade/