Pubdate: Mon, 15 Jun 2015 Source: Gloucester Daily Times (MA) Copyright: 2015 Eagle Tribune Publishing Company Contact: http://www.gloucestertimes.com/contactus/local_story_015132144.html Website: http://www.gloucestertimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/169 Author: Michael Cook GLOUCESTER CAN TAKE PRIDE IN ITS APPROACH TO THE HEROIN CRISIS To the editor: One of the big myths floating around the right wing, anonymous, Cape Ann blogosphere is the "angel" program is going to serve as a magnet for addicts from hither and yon to descend upon Gloucester as they try to "beat the rap" for drug and paraphernalia possession. It is an assumption, however, that is based more on fear and ignorance than it is reality. In the 1990s, when public health officials were advocating needle exchange programs as a means to slow the spread of blood-borne pathogens like HIV and hepatitis among injection drug users, opponents of such programs in Gloucester made the same argument. With no evidence to substantiate their claims, they used scare tactics to convince people such a program would make Gloucester a magnet for addicts from all over the state. They also argued that to be in possession of a syringe without a prescription was illegal in Massachusetts at that time and, therefore, needle exchange programs themselves were aiding and abetting the breaking of state laws. To be in possession of a syringe without a prescription was, indeed, against the law. That reality was a primary factor in why injection drug users shared needles, which was the primary factor in HIV and hepatitis' rapid spread among injection drug users. Thankfully, the Legislature eventually listened to the public health arguments regarding needle exchange programs. Several were implemented around the state. Unfortunately, Gloucester was not one of those communities - despite the pressing need. Several years later, the Legislature took another positive step in regards to the public health when it lifted the prescription requirement around syringe possession. Being able to purchase a syringe over the counter without a prescription did a great deal to cut down the instances of the sharing of injection equipment and, thus, the transmission of an array of blood borne pathogens among users. But still, those opposed to any innovative approaches to the drug problem remained intransigent in their positions. They claimed such measures "enabled" drug use and "coddled" addicts. They, erroneously, claimed such measures undermined law enforcement's ability to fight the "war on drugs" - a war many of those same people still refuse to admit has been an abysmal failure. Those needle exchange programs in Massachusetts proved to be effective bridges to treatment for many and, despite the claims by opponents that communities that implemented them would be inundated with addicts from all over, no such mass migration occurred. Gloucester, thanks to police Chief Leonard Campanello, is, as it has in the past on other issues, taking a leading role in changing not only the conversation about how best to combat the drug problem, but the methods of doing so as well. Those who continue to malign and criticize such leadership based on uninformed emotion, misplaced morality, and outright cruelty need to get the facts on these issues. They also ought to, if they feel so strongly about these issues, come out from behind the protective veil of anonymity and make their arguments with their names attached and stop with the insults, personal attacks, and demeaning language that are so easy to engage in when nobody knows who you are. Gloucester's program is being talked about as a possible model for several communities here on the Outer Cape to emulate where the heroin/prescription opioid epidemic is also taking a very heavy toll - - on far too many far too young to be on the obit pages of the Cape Cod Times and Provincetown Banner. That is something Gloucester, and leaders like Chief Campenello, can take great pride in. Michael Cook Gloucester and Truro - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom