(Canadian Police) Chief takes aim at city's drug addiction problem

"Just weeks into his new job as [St. John's] police chief and Bill Reid is taking the gloves off. He's had enough of the current catch-and-release system that provides addicts no help after they're arrested for crime that's driven by their need to feed a drug addiction. 'When we arrest somebody, the question will be asked relative to the crime - was it part of a drug addiction?' Reid said."

Read More from the January 19, 2009 Telegraph Journal Article

Methadone Patients Against Hysteria & Further Restrictions: SIGN THE PETITION!

Sponsored by the National Alliance of Methadone Advocates (NAMA), this petition is going strong with over 2,500 signatures - the goal is 10,000!


Excerpt from the Petition:
"There has been much written of late about the rise in deaths due to the abuse of Methadone. We lament these deaths, but feel that there has arisen an hysteria that proposes to restrict futher the prescription of this life-saving medication to the detriment of the 250,000 patients who receive this drug daily in addiction treatment programs across the United States. An overdose due to a person's recreational use of illicitly obtained methadone is NOT the fault of the drug, but of the person abusing the drug. Accidental overdoses by persons legitimately prescribed the drug for pain management purposes is again, not the fault of the drug, but of medical personnel who may not be educating patients enough to the dangers of such a long-acting analgesic. Deaths due to the recreational abuse of the drug lies with the abuser, not the substance." View the Entire Petition

(Hat tip: ARM-ME Blog)