ALBANY - In an effort to reduce heroin overdose cases, 12 state colleges will get naloxone kits, the potent heroin antidote. Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is making the announcement Wednesday at SUNY Purchase in Westchester County. The Community Overdoes Prevention program will provide SUNY police with nearly $27,000 to purchase 258 naloxone kits for campuses at Purchase, Potsdam, Buffalo, Cortland, Oswego, Albany, Geneseo, Adirondack, Canton, Utica/Rome, Farmingdale, and New Paltz. Each naloxone kit will consist of zip bag or pouches will contain two pre-filled syringes of naloxone, the heroin antidote that can reverse the effects of an opioid or heroin overdose. It also will include two atomizers for nasal administration, sterile gloves and a pamphlet on the use of the drug. [continues 244 words]
This letter is in response to your Aug. 4 article titled, "Schumer wants funding to fight heroin 'epidemic.' " Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., is mistaken if he thinks throwing money at the heroin "epidemic" will do anything other than enrich violent drug cartels. Attempts to limit supply while demand remains constant only increases the profitability of drug trafficking. For addictive drugs like heroin, a spike in street prices leads desperate addicts to increase criminal activity to feed desperate habits. The drug war doesn't fight crime, it fuels crime. [continues 159 words]
CARMEL - Sen. Charles Schumer stood in front of the sheriff's office here and declared heroin abuse in Putnam County an "epidemic" in need of the federal government's attention and resources. He rattled off a list of harrowing figures: heroin arrests in Putnam have increased 300 percent in the last two years. Heroin-related deaths have quadrupled during that time. "The battle against heroin is one we must win," Schumer said, flanked by County Executive MaryEllen Odell, advocates and law enforcement officials. "Too many beautiful young lives are wasted by this epidemic." [continues 290 words]
Any discussion of the Office of National Drug Control Policy's claim that today's marijuana is more potent than in the past ("Boomers, beware: Pot more potent now," July 28) must be prefaced by the fact the agency routinely lies about marijuana. Case in point: A recent report by the agency claimed frequent marijuana ingestion doubles a teen's risk of depression and anxiety. When questioned about the agency's claim that "using marijuana can cause depression and other mental illnesses," drug czar John Walters admitted there is no proof one leads to another. [continues 178 words]
Agency Warns About Drug's 'Harmless' Image The Office of National Drug Control Policy is warning baby boomers the marijuana their children could be smoking is not the same as the drug of their generation. Studies by the University of Mississippi's Potency Monitoring Project found the levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in marijuana seized throughout the country have more than doubled since the 1960s. "It's very serious. Marijuana is a huge blind spot among many Americans, particularly baby boomer parents," Rafael Lemaitre, the agency's deputy press secretary, said. "Many parents grew up in the '60s and '70s, where the image of the drug was that of a harmless drug, and clearly, things have changed." [continues 308 words]
Drug Courts Offer Addicts a Hard but Hopeful Way Out Yolanda Knox was 15 when she tried marijuana. Ten years later, she discovered crack cocaine. Her addictions led to a life of stealing and drug dealing -- and a stretch in state prison. "The money was good," the 41-year-old Kingston woman said recently, "but I was my own best customer. There weren't too many days I wasn't high or committing crimes." Two years ago, Knox was caught forging her sister's name on a fingerprint card after she was arrested for drug possession. The charge was her second felony -- an almost certain ticket back to prison for a woman who had four grandchildren. [continues 1547 words]
Regarding your Dec. 1 editorial, mandatory minimum prison sentences have done little other than give the "land of the free" the highest incarceration rate in the world. The deterrent value of tough law enforcement is grossly overrated. During the crack epidemic of the eighties, New York City chose the zero-tolerance approach, opting to arrest and prosecute as many offenders as possible. Meanwhile, Washington Mayor Marion Barry was smoking crack and America's capital had the highest per capita murder rate in the country. Yet crack use declined in both cities simultaneously. [continues 105 words]
The Poughkeepsie Journal is wasting resources arguing over harsh prison sentences (Time to reform severe drug laws, Dec. 1), and should go right to the root of the problem: The war on drugs. Prohibition will not and can not win because the laws of supply and demand are stronger than prohibition. Repealing the original prohibition and creating alcohol regulation made society safer and there is reason to believe ending the sequel will do the same. Stan White Dillon, Col. [end]
It's difficult to dispute that lengthy mandatory sentences for violating drug laws are unduly harsh and fundamentally unfair. Yet the required sentencing guidelines continue, without significant change. Recent election results could offer hope. Congress, in the past, has failed to act on recommendations from a federal panel to make the sentencing guidelines more consistent. Federal law requires a five-year sentence for trafficking in 5 grams of crack cocaine. It would take 500 grams of powder cocaine to warrant the same penalty. Democrats are set to take control of both houses of Congress in January, and should use their newfound power to rectify this discrepancy. [continues 335 words]
Fentanyl, a potent synthetic drug similar to morphine, has reached Dutchess County. It is thought to be as much as 200 times as potent as morphine. The county Department of Health warned local hospital emergency rooms recently to be on alert, because fatal overdoses are common among heroin users lured by the promise of an intense high. Government agencies and nonprofit groups that work are also trying to get the word out on the street. The Dutchess County medical examiner recently received toxicology results indicating that a man with a history of drug abuse and hepatitis C had the drug in his blood stream when he was found dead in his home. [continues 55 words]
Drug Bust Nets More-Costly Version The 50 pounds of marijuana nabbed by police during a Red Hook traffic stop this summer is stronger and more expensive than the kind of weed typically found in the Hudson Valley. And that's what makes it more dangerous, police say. The high-grade marijuana seized Aug. 12 during a Dutchess County Sheriff's Office traffic stop is believed to be worth about $3,000 a pound or $150,000 in all, said Sgt. Russ Bailey of the Dutchess County Drug Task Force. [continues 417 words]
A self-styled Texas cowboy is waging a cross-country battle against the country's drug policy, one hoof step at a time. Howard Wooldridge, a resident of Fort Worth, Texas, and a member of a group called Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, moseyed down Route 9 Friday on his horse, Sam, to spread his message of drug policy reform. Wooldridge believes illegal drugs should be treated the same way as alcohol. "We want to make our communities safer places and I know that this [drug] policy has created this huge crime wave," Wooldridge, a retired police officer, said. He was wearing a cowboy hat and a white shirt that read "Cops say legalize drugs. Ask me why." [continues 55 words]
Regarding your editorial "Sentences must make sense:" If harsh penalties deterred illegal drug use, the goal of a "drug-free" America would have been achieved decades ago. Instead of adding to what is already the highest incarceration rate in the world, we should be funding cost-effective drug treatment. Drug prohibition finances organized crime at home and terrorism abroad, which is then used to justify increased drug war spending. It's time to end this madness and instead treat all substance abuse, legal or otherwise, as the public health problem it is. Thanks to public education efforts, legal tobacco use has declined considerably in recent years. Apparently, mandatory minimum prison sentences, civil asset forfeiture, random drug testing and racial profiling are not necessarily the most cost-effective means of discouraging unhealthy choices. Robert Sharpe, Policy Analyst Common Sense for Drug Policy Washington [end]
Talk about hypocrisy. State leaders are pleased New York's highest court just affirmed the "three strikes-and-you're-out" law is a good measure to keep repetitive felons behind bars for long periods of time. The case involved a man convicted of multiple thefts. Judges should look at the offender's history when determining the proper sentence. If people are repeatedly committing crimes, they should get a longer prison sentence than, say, first-time offenders. Yet, state lawmakers have been inconsistent about giving judges that authority. For example, under the state's Rockefeller drug statutes passed decades ago, judges don't have that latitude in all cases. Over the years, numerous judges have spoken out against the mandatory minimum sentencing requirements of the state's drug laws. [continues 247 words]
NEW PALTZ -- Village and Ulster County officials joined student protesters Friday to urge SUNY New Paltz administrators to stop expelling students caught with drugs. "Despite the administration's position that this is not a village issue and we should not be here speaking today ... my constituency is facing eviction without due process or appeal," said Mayor Jason West, a State University of New York at New Paltz alumnus. A controversial SUNY New Paltz policy requires expulsion for students caught with drugs. Marijuana offenders are expelled after a second offense. [continues 180 words]
SUNY students: Relax drug policies By Nik Bonopartis NEW PALTZ -- Claiming they have the support of village politicians for more lax drug policies at SUNY New Paltz, student groups will hold a rally today to end expulsions of students caught with drugs. But a village trustee listed as a speaker on the event's flyers said he never agreed to appear at the rally. And Thursday, the mayor and deputy mayor dodged inquiries about their involvement. The protest seeks to pressure college officials into changing the penalties for students who are caught with drugs. [continues 284 words]
New York lawmakers are about to remedy some of the most egregious aspects of the state's drug laws -- but their work will fall significantly short of total reform. While Gov. George Pataki should support the changes before him, lawmakers shouldn't kid themselves; their work is far from done. The state is reducing the mandatory prison terms for people caught in the toughest of the drug statutes. Current laws can put people away for 15-25 years to life for some first-time offenses, such as possessing four ounces of cocaine. While drug use must not be condoned, people caught in this situation shouldn't be spending more time in prison than some rapists and murderers. Those drug sentences would be lowered to eight years to 20 years, with offenders eligible for release in less than seven years. The new sentencing guidelines are more reasonable. [continues 330 words]
Some state lawmakers are pleased with themselves for having the guts to meet in public to talk about their failed efforts to change New York's drug laws. This passes for progress in Albany. But it's not good enough for those who realize it borders on insanity to lock up nonviolent, first-offense offenders for decades, sometimes life, for possessing a few ounces of drugs. In some instances, rapists and murderers are doing less time. It's not enough for those serving in prison because they got caught in someone else's web of deceit. There are people like Lance Marrow, given 15 years to life after a guest brought drugs into his house -- drugs found by police. [continues 2232 words]
New Paltz Group Allegedly Broke Ad Restrictions NEW PALTZ -- Tuesday's village election has left losing candidate Rick Remsnyder bitter about his opponent's campaign, widening a community rift that began with last year's mayoral race. At issue are New Paltz college student votes, how they're obtained and what they represent. A campus group violated restrictions on political advertising at the State University of New York at New Paltz, college officials said Wednesday. The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws allegedly sported unauthorized signs for candidate Michael Zierler during a "Rock Against Racism" rally. [continues 414 words]
While many teenagers remember the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program as something they did in elementary school, for Robyn Elder the DARE lessons carried through her high school years. The 18-year-old Hyde Park resident started the DARE Youth Committee in February 2001 while attending Franklin Delano Roosevelt High School. It was an alternative to just hanging out. "The main idea of the group is to keep kids busy and keep them out of trouble," she said. She pointed out there aren't many activities for teenagers in Hyde Park and they might start experimenting with alcohol and drugs. The idea to start the committee came to Elder when she started helping her stepfather, Hyde Park Police Department DARE Officer Robert Benson, with his lessons at Haviland Middle School. [continues 524 words]
