Police and paramedics were called to a Larose Place residence last week for a report of a drug overdose. When police arrived on scene, they also found that the victim's infant daughter was at the site. When police arrived at the house, a 24-year-old woman who lived there was being treated by paramedics for a heroin overdose. Witnesses told police that the woman had been up and talking with them and then suddenly passed out on the bathroom floor. While in the apartment, officers saw the victim's 1-month old daughter on a bed, with discarded syringes on the bed and bedside table. [continues 82 words]
BOSTON - Citing an increase in heroin deaths and hospitalizations, Gov. Mitt Romney vetoed legislation last week that proponents say will slow the spread of HIV and hepatitis C by making clean needles readily available, without a prescription, to illegal drug users. Romney called the legislature's work "laudable" in an effort to stop the spread of intravenous diseases, such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C, but said signing the bill would lead to "unintended consequences in public health." "We believe that upon review of this bill that some of the unintended consequences could be more severe than the benefits that would be achieved by signing the bill. For that reason I have vetoed the bill that has been brought to my desk," said Romney. [continues 814 words]
Save us from politicians sending messages. They were at it again last week, debating a bill that would provide civil fines, instead of criminal records, for those caught possessing small amounts of marijuana. "That's the wrong message to send to our kids," Attorney General Tom Reilly said. "We have to keep them out of drugs." State Rep. Karyn Polito, R-Shrewsbury, agreed, saying the bill "sends the wrong message." Let's get real: Politicians don't send messages, especially to kids, who couldn't name their state representative if their iPods depended on it. For 40 years, politicians have been "sending messages" to kids about the dangers of pot and for 40 years, the kids have been ignoring them. State legislators and attorneys general don't send messages; they pass laws and prosecute people caught breaking them. The law they have now said they can send you to prison for six months and fine you $500 for possession of a single joint - on top of your lawyer's fees, of course. Another law makes anyone convicted of marijuana possession ineligible for federal college loans or grants. Nice message they are sending: Anyone who smokes pot shouldn't be able to go to college. [continues 768 words]
With substance abuse reaching epidemic proportions in Massachusetts, Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey unveiled a plan Monday that funds additional treatment services, targets methamphetamine sales, and calls for assistance to school districts that test students for drugs. Massachusetts is among the top 5 percent of states with the highest drug and alcohol abuse rates. The Bay State ranks number one for Oxycontin and heroin use. In 1996, there were 200 opiate-related fatal overdoses, a number that jumped to 449 statewide in 2003. And among teens admitted for substance abuse treatment, they were experimenting with the drug at an average age of 13. Healey and other public health officials said there is no single reason behind those unwanted rankings, but said a persistent denial of the problem likely fuels its prevalence. [continues 688 words]
Under pressure from lawmakers reacting to widening alcohol and drug abuse epidemics, a top Romney administration official on Monday pledged to present the administration's strategic plan to a legislative committee in two weeks. Interim Public Health Commissioner Paul Cote agreed to make the May 16 presentation to the Legislature's new Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse during an informational hearing that lasted more than six hours, at which there was general agreement that abuse is spreading faster than government's ability to successfully respond to it. [continues 814 words]
It was a typical suburban family. They bought the house of their dreams outside of Boston and took family vacations. But Joanne Peterson of Raynham soon found out that OxyContin, which is cited as leading to heroin, had infiltrated her family and, according to officials, she wasn't alone. At an OxyContin and heroin forum for Allston-Brighton parents, Peterson said that the past three years have been a roller coaster. "In 2001, my son graduated from high school," she said. "I always thought he would be a success and I still have hope for it. He thought about college, but he was on the fence so he joined the National Guard. He had all kinds of dreams." [continues 780 words]
The Allston-Brighton Substance Abuse Task Force has begun to make ambitious plans for how it will use $140,000 worth of grant money. The task force's goal is to prevent youth and adults from getting hooked on drugs, particularly OxyContin and heroin. "We're basically trying to target everybody in Allston-Brighton," said task force project coordinator Donna Abruzzese at a meeting last week. The organization hopes to work with other existing groups in Allston-Brighton to reach every corner of the population. A large focus of the prevention effort will be on youth, but the task force also hopes to work with parents, businesses, churches, service organizations, immigrant communities, college students and everyone else. [continues 545 words]
