A Bill To Preserve Life

Today, in the New York Times, there is an editorial titled," How To Stop Heroin Deaths."  It was written by Robert S. Hoffman, who is an emergency physician at NYU Langone Medical Center and Bellevue Hospital. We have all heard about Phillip Seymour Hoffman, who recently died recently of a suspected heroin overdose. You would have to really be in another world to not have heard how rampant heroin deaths have become.

What this article poses, is that Naloxone should be available to the public, without having a medical presence there. Naloxone is an opioid antidote that is used to help someone begin breathing again, once heroin has started to repress it. According to the article, it can be administered through a needle, or a nasal spray. Mr. Hoffman suggests that many heroin overdoses occur while someone else is in the room, and that usually, people tend to think that the person is just in a deep sleep. Perhaps, Naloxone, if readily available, could prevent some of these deaths? Currently, Naloxone is purchased by local governments, and then distributed amongst hospitals and city programs. However, you can't just walk into a store and purchase it because you decide you want to party and are trying to be safe about it.

Many are opposed to the idea because they feel it might encourage drug use. How many times have we heard this logic? How about the arguments of making birth control and condoms available to teenagers? Many argue that it encourages sex. But let's get real, isn't more important to have procedures in place to prevent deaths and unwanted pregnancies? Shouldn't we give people the tools they need to prevent such disaster? I am of the opinion, that yes, we should be proactive.

This is where the Government comes in. A bill, that would allow the Naloxone to be readily available, without the presence of medical personnel, was introduced in the New York State Legislature last week. Sponsored by State Senator Kemp Hannon, it has already passed the State Senate Health Committee. The Bill has some to go to become law, but it is on its way and has tremendous support.

I support this for one very important reason. Part of the government's role is to PRESERVE LIFE, and whether or not you feel like addicts should or shouldn't be saved... well, a life is still a life.