Fentanyl: Progress and prevention
Fentanyl has killed over 100,000 people last year alone. Congress has allotted millions of dollars to help in this drug epidemic. However, it is being called an adequate. Without changes to healthcare policies and decriminalization of harm reduction programs this illicit drug will continue to claim thousands of lives. Rehabs are very expensive, between out of pocket cost and insurance approval. I'm asking that there be at least one per state, government funded addiction rehab, that people can go to. One that has no out-of-pocket payment or insurance approval. Decriminalization of harm reduction includes, the decriminalization of fentanyl testing strips. Thirty-two states view this potentially life-saving strips as drug paraphernalia. Harm reduction also needs to include allowing emergency department physicians to distribute naloxone to anyone who has experienced an overdose. There is no justifiable reason for naloxone to be behind the counter other than pharmaceutical industry profit. It needs to be sold over the counter for those in need.
View Comments