SAVE LIVES BEFORE PUNISHING ADDICTS

THE City is acting responsibly and ethically by treating heroin addiction
primarily as a medical problem. One San Francisco resident dies every other
day because of a heroin overdose. Whatever we can do to save lives is
better than punishment.

Gov. Gray Davis should sign a proposal that the Legislature passed two
weeks ago providing a framework for overdose prevention programs. In San
Francisco, this approach has taken the form of the controversial "Fix With
a Friend" citywide campaign. It may not be an appetizing message for the
morality police, but with the supply of black tar heroin exploding and the
price dropping to $30 a gram from a high of $100 a decade ago, something
has to be done to end the fatalities.

One proposal, out of a University of California, San Francisco study, is to
distribute naloxone -- a chemical that can interrupt overdoses and bring
victims back to consciousness. In the last seven weeks, UCSF says the drug
has saved five lives.

The arguments against naloxone are the same as those against the clean
needles freely given to addicts to prevent AIDS. If they know their drug
use is safer, or at least less likely to result in death, they will be less
likely to stop their self-destructive behavior. But the success of
needle-exchange programs across the country clearly demonstrates that this
is not the case. Drug addiction should be unacceptable. That's no reason to
make it a death sentence.

SUPERVISOR Gavin Newsom says he would like the police department to change
its focus when reacting to overdoses and not look for clues of drug abuse
when responding. This will reduce the chance that friends of addicts who
are experiencing an overdose will hesitate before dialing 911. That model
has been successful in Santa Cruz County.

While 80 percent of The City's 13,000-17,000 heroin addicts inject with a
partner, 80 percent of overdoses are found alone. Many flee after they call
the medics, hurting their partner's chance of survival. No one should be so
scared of punishment that they put someone else's life at risk.

Yet it is not enough to give out a newfangled antidote and tell addicts
they no longer face mortal peril. The City must still do the hard work,
following up with patients and getting them into detox programs. Last year
the state passed Proposition 36, allowing drug addicts to get treatment
instead of jail time for possession. That was one important step. Many more
are needed.